The Coral Triangle is a marine region that spans Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, the Solomon Islands and Timor-Leste. This region is recognised for having the highest diversity of marine species anywhere on the planet. At the very heart of the coral triangle, at the epicentre of biodiversity, lies the Wakatobi Marine National Park, the location of Opwall’s marine research base in Indonesia. The Hoga Island Marine Station has been the centre for Opwall’s Indonesian marine research programme for nearly 30 years. During this time, teams of international and Indonesian scientists have worked at this site during the Opwall survey seasons and as a result have produced more than 200 peer-reviewed papers. The research outcomes and discoveries from these studies have had local, national and international significance.

For the last 15 years, Opwall has also been running an extensive monitoring programme around Hoga and eastern Kaledupa for macroinvertebrates, fish communities, coral cover and community structure. In 2027 the long-term monitoring programme will continue, however there will a new research focus introduced. Like many coral reefs globally, the Wakatobi has experienced recent changes in benthic community structure and a reduction in the size and abundance of many reef fish species. Our ultimate goal is to develop an ecosystem model to represent the current dynamics of the marine ecosystems in the Wakatobi to help support future management decisions. To support this goal, work in the regions will focus on understanding the consequences of these changes in benthic community structure to the productivity of coral reefs in the Wakatobi and the resources these reefs provide to local communities. In 2026 research projects will focus on describing the extent of shifts from coral dominated states to reefs dominated by other groups including sponges, ascidians and soft corals, and the potential of deep reefs to provide refugia for sharks, rays and other predatory fish.

Building on nearly three decades of research at the heart of the Coral Triangle, reef conservation efforts at Hoga Island now include active restoration work to support long-term reef resilience. Since 2019, the Mars Assisted Reef Restoration System (MARRS) has been implemented at selected sites, using steel “reef stars” to stabilise rubble and encourage coral growth. Ongoing monitoring has provided valuable insights into how restoration structures influence coral survival, habitat complexity, and overall reef health. In 2026, students will contribute to research examining how these restoration efforts can enhance biodiversity and ecosystem function, complementing the long-term ecological monitoring already in place. These conservation initiatives are vital to protecting the rich marine life of the Wakatobi and ensuring the continued ecological value of one of the most biodiverse marine regions on the planet.