REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, GORONTALO -- Tomini Bay, which borders the provinces of Gorontalo, Central Sulawesi and North Sulawesi, should continue to be preserved because it is rich in marine life, the head of Bone Bolango district in Gorontalo, Hamim Pou, said.

"Tomini Bay has great marine biodiversity that should be protected. The government of Bone Bolango district is actively engaging in its protection," Pou stated here on Wednesday.

He noted that the marine life and coral reefs in Tomini Bay should continue to be protected and preserved, ahead of the international maritime event, Sail Tomini 2015.

According to the district head, Tomini Bay is the largest in Indonesia, with an area of approximately six million hectares of natural and marine resources.

"Tomini Bay has an area of 1,031 hectares of coral reefs, and a mangrove forest cover of 785.10 hectares," he observed, adding that Olele Marine Park is part of the bay.

Hamim also pointed out that Olele Marine Park offers a beautiful beach and amazing underwater life to explore.

Unlike Wakatobi and Bunaken, this marine park is not only a new heaven for divers, but has also become a favorite destination for foreign tourists.

Moreover, the Bone Bolango district government will take part in the Sail Tomini event by organizing an Olele Festival to support President Joko Widodo's maritime development program, he affirmed.

"The Olele Festival aims at promoting the marine tourism potential and marine resources in the district of Bone Bolango," a spokesman for the local culture and tourism office, Rudy Iriawan, said.

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