Certification called for coral reef exploitation<\/p>\n
By Edith Hartanto<\/p>\n
DENPASAR, Bali (JP): Environmental experts here on Sunday
\ncalled to attention the rapid destruction of coral reefs in
\nIndonesian oceans, urging that certain standards and
\ncertification be imposed on those engaged in the collection and
\ncare of ornamental marine life.<\/p>\n
Ketut Sarjana Putra, deputy director of the World Wide Fund
\nfor Nature (WWF) for the Wallacea Bioregion, told The Jakarta
\nPost on Sunday that a 1999 survey from Coral Reef Indonesia
\nindicated that out of eight areas monitored by 33 stations only
\n5.56% coral reefs are in good condition.<\/p>\n
The eight areas are Riung, Bali, Kepulauan Seribu, Teluk
\nLampung, Makassar, Karimunjawa, Riau and Pelabuhan Ratu.<\/p>\n
Speaking on the eve of the opening of the ninth International
\nCoral Reef Symposium due to begin here on Monday, Ketut noted
\nthat the most worrying sign is that in certain waters where coral
\nreef damage is very high, there are no longer ornamental fishes
\nsuch as butterfly fish, trigger fish, angel fish and clown fish.<\/p>\n
\"Even the Napoleon wrasse fish can only be found in two
\nlocations, Bali and Karimunjawa. Most of those ornamental fishes
\nhave been harshly exploited,\" he added.<\/p>\n
Reef Check Indonesia is a monitoring program coordinated by
\nWWF in cooperation with other non-governmental organizations,
\nuniversities and dive operators and the Indonesian Institute of
\nScience (LIPI).<\/p>\n
\"All this time people only think on how to get quick results
\nbut they are doing it by destroying the nature. Commercial
\nfishermen often use cyanide and other chemical poisons to stun
\nand capture reef fishes,\" Ketut said.<\/p>\n
Another contributing factor to the destruction of coral reefs
\nis the removal of corals for producing construction material or
\nsouvenirs.<\/p>\n
Indonesia, with its large ocean area hosts around 42,000
\nsquare kilometers of coral reef cover or about 16.5 percent of
\nthe world's coral reef cover.<\/p>\n
Certification<\/p>\n
The Marine Aquarium Council (MAC) along with the WWF and
\nrelated stakeholders in marine ornamental trade such as AKKI
\n(Indonesian Association of Coral Reefs and Fish) are currently
\nworking on standards and certification for products and industry
\noperators.<\/p>\n
It is believed that some 80 percent of the world's marine
\nornamental fish supplies come from the Indonesian and Philippine
\narchipelagos.<\/p>\n
An estimated of 330,000 pounds of cyanide are sprayed on
\nPhilippine coral reefs alone.<\/p>\n
The standards being drafted are focused in three areas:
\necosystem management which will highlight the need to balance the
\nexploitation of coral reefs and the reef's own growth; fishing
\nand collection practices; and transportation and handling as they
\nconcern live creatures.<\/p>\n
The Ninth International Conference on Coral Reefs will be
\nofficially opened by Minister of Sea Exploration Sarwono
\nKusumaatmadja and State Minister of Environment Sonny Keraf on
\nMonday.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/certification-called-for-coral-reef-exploitation-1447893297",
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