Types of Life Forms and Cover of Coral Reefs in the Waters of Tanjung Sauh Island, Batam City, Kepulauan Riau Province, Indonesia

According to the Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Regulation Number 21 of 2022, which amends the List of National Strategic Projects, an industrial estate development has been designated as one of the national strategic projects, located on Tanjung Sauh Island, Batam City, Riau Islands Province, Indonesia. The development of this industrial estate has the potential to damage the coastal environment, particularly the coral reefs, which are vital ecosystems providing both biodiversity support and coastal protection from erosion. This study aimed to identify the types of coral reef life forms and to determine the percentage of live coral reef cover in the waters surrounding Tanjung Sauh Island. The observation method used was the Line Intercept Transect, conducted at a minimum depth of 3 meters under typical field water conditions. Data collection was carried out through random sampling at four observation sites over three days, from August 6 to August 8, 2023. The coordinates for the observation sites were: Observation location 1 (01.06145°N, 104.16140°E), Observation location 2 (01.05720°N, 104.18027°E), Observation location 3 (00.99408°N, 104.16265°E), and Observation location 4 (00.99408°N, 104.16265°E). The results revealed the types of hard coral reefs found at the observation sites, including Acropora Submassive, Acropora Encrusting, Acropora Tabulate, Acropora Branching, Coral Massive, Coral Encrusting, Coral Submassive, Coral Mushroom, and Coral Branching. The coral reef cover in these locations ranged from 16.30 to 45.74%. This research is expected to serve as a reference for future policy development to ensure a balance between economic growth and the preservation of the marine environment on Tanjung Sauh Island.