Les Village in Bali is a village located on the coast in the north of Bali, located in District Tejakula, Buleleng regency, Bali. At a glance, this village is not very special when compared to other coastal villages with the majority of fishermen. But if you look closer or visit the village of Les you will find many fish ponds and aquarium containing sea water fish because of most of the population of this village work as a fisherman for ornamental fish.
The establishment of this village begins from Panjingan residents who feel fear and insecurity because this village is always visited and destroyed by pirates. Therefore all residents of Panjingan Village decided to mekiles / ngenes (move place or hide elsewhere) in order to be free from the pirate colony.
All the people from Panjingan village moved to an area overgrown with some natural Buhu trees. Therefore the people of Panjingan Village named this area as Buhu Village. In this new area, the people of Panjingan Village feel safe and secure without the invasion of pirates who come, but the inconvenience is felt when they are difficult to find water.
Finally, the village leader decided to travel around North Bali to find an area that has many water sources. In his search, the village leader found a coastal area with many trees with lush foliage, indicating that this area has abundant water resources.
Residents Panjingan named this area as Les Village, the word “Les” derived from the word mekiles / ngenes because the population decided to move from one place to another to hide.
The uncomfortable thing is now happening again, the people of Panjingan Village experienced a disaster. The leader also received a magical suggestion that he and other citizens must build Upgrading / Pelinggih in the temple building. After they all obeying the magical instructions, the Les Village became safe and protected from any danger or disaster, and the wealth of the sea is more abundant.
By having the wealth of the sea, make most the resident’s livelihood is a fisherman. Increasingly, the fishermen there are trying to catch fish not using the net anymore but by spraying the substance of potassium or anesthesia into the sea.
Over time the substance is not to facilitate the work but can eliminate the work of fishermen because fish populations dropped dramatically even difficult to find and also make deadly coral reefs in the sea.
In 2000, the fishermen became aware of what has been done for decades. Together with Yayasan Bahtera Nusantara, all fishermen are fostered to preserve and develop the wealth of the sea again, by way of environmentally friendly fishing that utilizes the barrier nets.
The success makes all fishermen leave potas and re-use the net as before. Not only that, the fishermen also severely restrict fishing for the sake of its sustainability. In 2003 the fishermen also focused on re-planting and re-coral reefs by coral reef transplants using rehabilitation methods.
Coral reefs reef area is called Coral Farm Dive Site (Coral Garden). The Unique thing is, all the fishermen arrange reef planting with the structure of the letter L, E, S which means Les Village.
In addition to a coral reef, there are various kinds of ornamental fish ranging from butterflyfish, wrasse, damselfish, surgeonfish, cardinalfish, goby fish, blenny fish, letter six fish, clown fish and another marine biota.
Only guided tourists are allowed to this place, not only that for anyone including fishermen is strictly prohibited from fishing in the region. Tourists who dive into this area are not only entertained by the fish but can also see the attractions of the coral reef divers who is being assigned to care for coral reefs.
Travelers also have the opportunity to adopt coral reefs as a form of attention to the sustainability of the rehabilitation efforts that are being undertaken. The word adoption here does not mean taking home but tourists just give a sign or name on the container of coral reefs.
Not only succeeded in preserving its marine wealth again, the villagers have now also managed to become the best international salt producers on an international scale as the salt has been exported abroad such as America, Australia, and Japan. Being more aware of the environment can have a good impact not only on local people but also on future generations. The village of Les in Bali has now proven it.
