Hasanuddin University (Unhas) has plans and a framework to minimize physical, chemical, and biological changes in aquatic ecosystems through environmental protection policies, research, monitoring, and conservation planning. This commitment is reinforced through Circular Letter No. 41699/UN4.1/KM.01.03/2022, which was later updated by Circular Letter No. 28720/UN4.1/KM.01.03/2024 concerning the Protection and Prevention of Aquatic and Terrestrial Environmental Pollution. These policies provide the foundation for preventing activities that may cause changes and pollution in aquatic environments.

As part of its science-based plan, Unhas, through Marine Plastic Research Group (MPRG) participated in a training on river plastic waste monitoring using drones and Artificial Intelligence (AI) organized by ITB. This activity aims to enhance capacity for more effective and standardized data collection and analysis of waste. Unhas is also involved in Indonesia Plastic Waste Monitoring Hub, a collaborative network for monitoring plastic waste in Indonesia’s major rivers. Through drone technology, mapping, and AI analysis, both the locations and quantities of waste can be systematically monitored as a basis for developing strategies and policies to reduce river pollution and prevent waste from entering the marine ecosystem.

Unhas also contributes to conservation planning through the involvement of the Faculty of Marine Science and Fisheries in the preparation and technical evaluation of the Zoning Plan for Bone Bay Aquatic Conservation Area in Bone and Sinjai Regencies. This process includes data collection, ecosystem condition assessment, discussions with various stakeholders, preparation of zoning documents, and technical evaluation prior to the establishment of the area. The zoning plan considers the physical, chemical, and biological conditions of the waters as well as the characteristics of the ecosystem and biodiversity. Zoning and spatial utilization arrangements are designed to control human activities, minimize changes and pressures on aquatic ecosystems, and maintain ecological functions and the sustainability of marine resources.

Through this approach, Unhas integrates protection policies, data-based environmental monitoring, research, and conservation zoning planning to identify environmental pressures and reduce the potential for negative changes in aquatic ecosystems. Collaboration with the government, research institutions, universities, and other stakeholders strengthens the implementation of evidence-based and sustainability-oriented ecosystem management plans.

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Hasanuddin University (Unhas) has plans and a framework to minimize physical, chemical, and biological changes in aquatic ecosystems through environmental protection policies, research, monitoring, and conservation planning. This commitment is reinforced through Circular Letter No. 41699/UN4.1/KM.01.03/2022, which was later updated by Circular Letter No. 28720/UN4.1/KM.01.03/2024 concerning the Protection and Prevention of Aquatic and Terrestrial Environmental Pollution. These policies provide the foundation for preventing activities that may cause changes and pollution in aquatic environments.

As part of its science-based plan, Unhas, through Marine Plastic Research Group (MPRG) participated in a training on river plastic waste monitoring using drones and Artificial Intelligence (AI) organized by ITB. This activity aims to enhance capacity for more effective and standardized data collection and analysis of waste. Unhas is also involved in Indonesia Plastic Waste Monitoring Hub, a collaborative network for monitoring plastic waste in Indonesia’s major rivers. Through drone technology, mapping, and AI analysis, both the locations and quantities of waste can be systematically monitored as a basis for developing strategies and policies to reduce river pollution and prevent waste from entering the marine ecosystem.

Unhas also contributes to conservation planning through the involvement of the Faculty of Marine Science and Fisheries in the preparation and technical evaluation of the Zoning Plan for Bone Bay Aquatic Conservation Area in Bone and Sinjai Regencies. This process includes data collection, ecosystem condition assessment, discussions with various stakeholders, preparation of zoning documents, and technical evaluation prior to the establishment of the area. The zoning plan considers the physical, chemical, and biological conditions of the waters as well as the characteristics of the ecosystem and biodiversity. Zoning and spatial utilization arrangements are designed to control human activities, minimize changes and pressures on aquatic ecosystems, and maintain ecological functions and the sustainability of marine resources.

Unhas also addresses biological alteration directly, through applied intervention against invasive species. Around Lake Soppeng, Unhas trained local residents to process the invasive sapu-sapu catfish  (Pterygoplichthys sp.) into livestock feed pellets. Native to South America and introduced to Indonesian waters via the aquarium trade, sapu-sapu catfish are a well-documented biological alteration pressure on freshwater ecosystems: they damage fishing gear, prey on fish eggs, and compete with native species for food and habitat, while their bony armour makes them unpalatable and largely unmarketable as food fish, limiting natural control through fishing pressure. By training residents in Limpomajang, around Lake Soppeng, to convert captured sapu-sapu into a livestock-feed product, Unhas turned an ecological threat into an economic incentive for removal, directly reducing the species’ impact on native fish populations and providing a sustainable alternative livelihood input for the community.

Through this approach, Unhas integrates protection policies, data-based environmental monitoring, research, conservation zoning planning, and targeted intervention against specific, well-characterised biological threats to identify environmental pressures and reduce the potential for negative changes in aquatic ecosystems. Collaboration with the government, research institutions, universities, local communities, and other stakeholders strengthens the implementation of evidence-based and sustainability-oriented ecosystem management plans.