Hasanuddin University (Unhas) actively monitors the health of aquatic ecosystems through the integration of conservation, research, and collaboration with industry and the community. One example is the involvement of Faculty of Marine Science and Fisheries (FIKP) Unhas in routine monitoring of coastal ecosystems around the Tanjung Buli mining operation area, East Halmahera, conducted twice a year. The monitoring covers coral reefs, seagrass, macroalgae, plankton, benthos, and nekton, as well as environmental conditions, to identify biological and ecological changes resulting from mining activities. The monitoring results serve as the basis for companies to take preventive measures and manage the environment.

Unhas also collaborates with PT. ANTAM Tbk UBPN North Maluku and Khairun University in monitoring the success of the coral reef transplantation program in the coastal area of East Halmahera. Monitoring activities are carried out periodically to evaluate survival rate, growth, health, and adaptation ability of various coral species after being relocated to new habitats. The monitoring involves academics and experts from Unhas to ensure coral conditions and ecosystem developments can be assessed based on scientific data. Monitoring results show that most of the transplanted corals are able to adapt and grow well, including Acropora vaughani, Pocillopora verrucosa, Porites cylindrica, Acropora cerealis, and Acropora hyacinthus. Several colonies have even developed into broodstock with the potential to support subsequent transplantation activities. The transplantation method using spider-web media has also demonstrated effectiveness in supporting coral growth and stability. In addition, open site coral reef restoration activities have been developed as a medium for student learning and involvement in ecosystem monitoring and restoration.

Unhas involvement in this monitoring not only functions to assess the technical success of transplantation, but also provides a scientific database for evaluating ecosystem conditions, determining the need for further restoration actions, and supporting the sustainability of marine conservation programs. The collaborative approach among universities, industry, and local institutions strengthens efforts to monitor coral reef health while ensuring restoration activities provide long-term benefits for ecosystems and coastal communities.

Beyond coastal and marine monitoring, Unhas also contributes to assessing the health of freshwater ecosystems. In 2025, the Lake Matano Biodiversity Expedition, conducted with CPalim (Universitas Diponegoro) and PT Vale Indonesia, documented endemic fish and crab species, aquatic vegetation, and riparian flora in and around Lake Matano, one of Indonesia’s oldest and most biologically distinctive freshwater lakes. The expedition generated baseline ecological data on species composition and habitat condition, providing a scientific reference point against which future changes in the lake’s ecosystem can be monitored.

Taken together, these monitoring activities — spanning mining-impacted coral reefs, coral transplantation and reef restoration, and freshwater lake biodiversity — give Unhas a broad evidence base across different aquatic ecosystem types and pressures. Beyond assessing the technical success of individual interventions, this work builds a longer-term scientific record that can inform future restoration priorities and conservation planning. The collaborative approach, drawing on partnerships with industry, other universities, and local communities, strengthens Unhas’s capacity to monitor aquatic ecosystem health and support evidence-based, sustainability-oriented management across both marine and freshwater environments.