CENTRAL SULAWESI TO ORGANIZE 'SAIL TOGEAN' 2011

Palu, Southeast Sulawesi, April 26 (ANTARA) - The Central Sulawesi cultural and tourism office will organize a 'Sail Togean' marine tourism festival in 2011.

"We have consulted the marine and fishery affairs minister and the cultural and tourism minister on the idea. They gave their support," head of the Central Sulawesi cultural and tourism office Suaib Djafar, said here on Monday.

The Central Sulawesi provincial administration would learn from the experiences of North Sulawesi in organizing 'Sail Bunaken' and Maluku which will hold 'Sail Banda', he said.

The Togean island chain is an ecological wonder located in Tojo Una-Una districy Central Sulawesi, about a 10-hour's journey from Palu, the province's capital.

The Togean Islands are an archipelago of 56 pristine coral and volcanic islands and islets located in the Gulf of Tomini in Central Sulawesi.

The coral reefs in the island group support a rich and diverse marine life. The local people consist of seven ethnic groups.

The Togeans are an ideal place for diving as they are the only place in Indonesia where all major reef types, namely atolls, barriers and fringe reefs can be found.

According to research conducted by Conservation International, the waters in the archipelago located in Tomini Bay, is home to at least 596 fish species, two of them believed to be endemic to the area - the Paracheilinus togeanensis and the Ecsenius. They also hold 555 mollusk species of 103 families and 336 gastropod species.

Meanwhile, the international marine event of Sail Banda 2010 was officially launched in Ambon recently. Sail Banda is scheduled to last from June 12 to August 17, 2010 and will be participated in by around 200 yachts from various countries.

Last August 2009, Indonesia organized Sail Bunaken in North Sulawesi.