Papua University Survey Finds Mambor Island’s Coral Reefs Are Strongest on the Western Coast
Mambor Island, Papua — A team of marine scientists from Papua University (Universitas Papua/UNIPA) and Yayasan Meos Papua Lestari (YMPL) has found that coral reefs around Mambor Island in Moora District, Nabire Regency, remain in generally good condition, with the healthiest reefs located on the island’s western side. The field study, led by Dr. Selvi Tebaiy of Papua University, was carried out from August to September 2022, and its findings were published in 2026 in the International Journal of Advanced Technology and Social Sciences (IJATSS). The results matter because they provide clear, location-specific evidence that can guide fisheries management, coastal protection, and marine tourism development in Papua.
Mambor Island is part of the Moora Islands District, an archipelagic region that can only be reached by sea. The area covers about 59.4 square kilometers, with Mambor Village alone spanning 13.4 square kilometers. Like many small island communities in eastern Indonesia, the people of Mambor depend heavily on the ocean for food, income, and daily life. Coral reefs here are not just beautiful underwater landscapes; they function as nurseries for fish, feeding grounds for marine species, and natural barriers that reduce wave energy and coastal erosion.
Healthy coral reefs support local livelihoods through fishing and have growing economic value through snorkeling and diving tourism. At the same time, damaged reefs can lead to declining fish stocks, weaker coastal protection, and lost opportunities for sustainable tourism. These realities made Mambor Island an important site for a detailed scientific assessment of coral reef health.
Why this research was needed
Papua’s coastal and marine ecosystems are among the most biodiverse in the world, but they are also increasingly exposed to human activity, climate variability, and local environmental pressures. Mambor Island sits in a region where small-scale fishing is a primary livelihood, and where infrastructure such as village harbors can affect nearby marine habitats.
Previous local data suggested mixed reef conditions, with some areas showing significant coral damage and others appearing relatively intact. However, there had been no recent, systematic, site-specific survey that compared different parts of the island using standardized scientific methods. The UNIPA–YMPL team designed their study to fill this gap and produce clear, comparable data across multiple locations around the island.
How the scientists collected the data
The researchers selected three observation sites around Mambor Island:
-Station I in the southern waters, close to residential areas,
-Station II on the western coast, and
-Station III on the eastern side, near the village harbor.
At each station, divers used a widely accepted technique known as the Point Intercept Transect (PIT) method. They laid out a 50-meter measuring tape along the reef at different depths—3 meters, 7 meters, and 10 meters—and recorded what lay directly beneath the tape every 50 centimeters.
Instead of complex laboratory tests, the team relied on careful underwater observation. They identified whether each point on the transect was covered by live hard coral (Acropora or non-Acropora), soft coral, dead coral, dead coral covered by algae, coral rubble, sand, or other marine life. All of this data was later processed in Microsoft Excel to calculate precise percentages of live coral cover.
Live coral cover is a standard indicator of reef health used by marine scientists worldwide. Higher percentages generally mean healthier, more resilient reefs.
What the team found
The results revealed clear differences between the three sides of Mambor Island.
Western Mambor (Station II): very good condition
The western coast showed the strongest performance, with 84 percent live coral cover, placing it in the “very good” category under internationally recognized reef health criteria. This area was dominated by Acropora corals, which made up 72 percent of the cover. Acropora corals grow relatively fast and often indicate clean, well-flushed waters with lower levels of disturbance.
Southern Mambor (Station I): good condition
In the south, live coral cover reached 50 percent, which falls into the “good” category. Here, non-Acropora corals were more dominant, accounting for about 30 percent of cover. However, the team also found noticeable amounts of dead coral and coral rubble, suggesting physical damage likely linked to fishing activity and proximity to the village.
Eastern Mambor (Station III): moderate condition
The eastern side of the island had the lowest score, with 40 percent live coral cover, categorized as “moderate.” This site showed higher levels of sand, algae-covered dead coral, and other non-coral substrates. Its location near the harbor and exposure to currents appear to have influenced reef condition.
When averaged across all three sites, Mambor Island’s reefs showed 58 percent live coral cover, meaning the overall status is still considered good, even though some areas need better protection.
Why the western coast stands out
According to the researchers, the west coast benefits from a combination of natural and human factors. The seabed there has a gently sloping structure that supports diverse coral growth, and the area experiences less direct disturbance from fishing and boat traffic.
In contrast, Station I in the south lies directly in front of residential areas where fishing with nets and spears is common. The frequent presence of boats and direct contact with the reef likely contributes to broken corals and increased rubble.
Station III in the east is close to the village harbor, where sediment, boat movement, and currents reduce the space available for live coral to thrive.
What this means for local communities
The findings have clear real-world implications.
For fisheries, healthier reefs mean healthier fish populations. Protecting areas with high coral cover, especially on the west coast, could help sustain local catches in the long term.
For coastal protection, reefs act as natural breakwaters. If coral cover declines further, Mambor’s shoreline could become more vulnerable to erosion and rising seas.
For tourism, the study identifies the western side of Mambor Island as the best location for diving and snorkeling development, because it has the highest live coral cover and the most visually appealing reef structure.
For policy and management, the data provides a scientific basis for zoning—deciding which areas should be strictly protected, which can support limited use, and which might need restoration.
A voice from the research team
Summarizing the significance of the work, Dr. Selvi Tebaiy of Papua University noted that reef condition is closely tied to human activity: “The differences we observed around Mambor Island are not random. They reflect how people use the coast and sea. If communities and authorities work together, the healthiest reefs can be preserved while damaged areas recover.”
What comes next
The authors stress that this study is not the final word on Mambor’s reefs. They recommend regular monitoring, better management of boat anchoring, and stronger community awareness programs to reduce direct damage to corals. They also suggest further ecological studies to track changes over time and assess the impact of climate and local pressures.
Author profile
Dr. Selvi Tebaiy
-Affiliation: Papua University (Universitas Papua, UNIPA)
-Expertise: Coral reef ecology and coastal ecosystem management
-Role: Lead researcher and field coordinator
Co-authors:
-Sampari S. Suruan (Papua University)
-Yeri D. Blegur (Papua University)
-Agnestesya Manuputty (Papua University)
-Deni C. Mampioper (Yayasan Meos Papua Lestari)
-Philipus Musyeri (Yayasan Meos Papua Lestari)
-Dodi Sawaki (Yayasan Meos Papua Lestari)
-Hana Aronggear (Yayasan Meos Papua Lestari)
Source
Journal article title: Coral
Reef Ecosystem Conditions on Mambor Island, Moora District, Nabire Regency,
Papua Province
Journal: International
Journal of Advanced Technology and Social Sciences (IJATSS)
Year: 2026, Volume
4, Issue 1
DOI: https://doi.org/10.59890/ijatss.v4i1.161
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