Artificial reefs provide hope for fishermen<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): There is still hope for fishermen, who rely on
\ncatches of reef fish, as the country's coral reefs rapidly vanish
\n-- they can build artificial reefs.<\/p>\n
Scientists of the Bogor Agricultural Institute recently
\ndiscovered that the same fish would be attracted to reefs of old
\ntires and bamboo within six month of them being dumped in the
\nsea.<\/p>\n
Dedi Soedharma, who headed the institute's team, said in his
\nabstract that these two types of artificial reefs are equally
\ncapable of drawing fish to them because they served as ideal
\nhabitats for diminutive fauna and flora, which are the main diet
\nof small fish.<\/p>\n
The presence of small fish, in turn, attracted larger fish,
\nits predators, and turned the artificial reefs into either a
\nplace to stop for food, for shelter or as a permanent habitat.<\/p>\n
Declining coral reefs, due to man-made and natural
\ndestruction, made artificial reefs a favorable means of starting
\nnew fish colonies and, if developed commercially, could serve as
\nthe fishermen's permanent source of catch, the research
\nconcluded.<\/p>\n
The study was among 20 presented in a three-day seminar on the
\nlatest results in marine scientific research.<\/p>\n
The seminar, held from Monday to Wednesday, brought together
\nresearchers from six state-owned universities, which were granted
\nAsian Development Bank loans totaling US$74 million, under a
\nMarine Sciences Education Project.<\/p>\n
The loans, which were rendered starting from 1989, were used
\nto establish project facilities in Riau's University of
\nPekanbaru, the Bogor Agricultural Institute, Semarang's
\nDiponegoro University, Manado's Sam Ratulangi University, Ujung
\nPandang's Hasanuddin University and Ambon's Pattimura University.<\/p>\n
Other studies included the impact of crude oil pollution on
\nthe growth rate of Sea Bass, the occurrence of ocean currents and
\nother phenomenons and their impacts on fish population and the
\nexistence of pathogenic bacteria in the sea.<\/p>\n
The Director for Academic Development at the Ministry of
\nEducation and Culture, Harsono Taroepratjeka, explained that 228
\nresearch activities have been conducted under the project, which
\nwill be finalized this year.<\/p>\n
He considered that although the research may not be directly
\napplicable, it would nonetheless contribute significantly to the
\ncurrently scant research in marine sciences.<\/p>\n
"We are not aiming for anything spectacular yet because at
\npresent we are at the stage of arousing the awareness and ability
\nof researchers to understand Indonesia's seas and oceans,"
\nHarsono said.<\/p>\n
"What we need is a means to communicate them to the public,"
\nHarsono said.<\/p>\n
He admitted that currently, there was minimum communication
\nbetween universities -- as the centers of distinction and sources
\nof research -- and the public, resulting in what was often seen
\nas the researchers' ignorance towards society.<\/p>\n
The six universities undertake different specializations,
\naccording to their respective local conditions, which consist of
\nmarine conservation, marine resources exploration, mariculture
\nand marine pharmacology.<\/p>\n
Twenty-two research projects have been conducted by the
\nUniversity of Riau, 75 by the Bogor Agriculture University, 35 by
\nthe Diponegoro University, 48 by the Hasanuddin University, 32 by
\nthe Sam Ratulangi University and 16 by the Pattimura University.<\/p>\n
The loans have been used not only to carry out research but
\nalso to establish marine laboratories, procure other facilities,
\nincluding research vessels, and finance academic consultants,
\ncivil works and human resources development for faculty staff
\nmembers.<\/p>\n
The major focuses of the Marine Sciences Education Project are
\nmarine ecology, marine resources conservation, mariculture,
\nmarine biology, oceanography and marine acoustics. (pwn)<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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