Marine scientists will begin conducting an ecological survey in eight locations throughout the resort island in Indonesia's Bali province that could be developed as marine managed areas due to their biodiversity and coral structure, the Jakarta Post quoted an expert as saying on Wednesday.

The survey, which will take place from April 29 to May 11, will be carried out by four international scientists and local scientists from universities.

Ketut Sarjana Putra, the marine program director with Conservation International Indonesia, said Tuesday the survey was aimed at identifying marine species and their population in each of the eight locations.

Selected from 25 potential marine conservation zones, the eight locations are Pulaki and Pemuteran, Lovina, Les Village, Tulamben and Amed, Padangbai, Nusa Penida, Bukit Uluwatu Peninsula and Perancak Beach. "We will go around Bali, starting from Sanur in the south, heading east, then covering the northern and the western areas, then back to the south," Ketut told the daily.

The survey is part of a process to build a network of marine protected areas to effectively manage the island's marine and coastal resources to sustain environmental and socioeconomic value and benefits, with priority given to the eight locations.