Fish bombs destroying Lampung's coral reefs<\/p>\n
By Budisantoso Budiman<\/p>\n
BANDARLAMPUNG, Lampung (Antara): Despite a high incidence of
\ntragic accidents, Lampung's fishing communities have expressed no
\nsign of remorse for their use of explosives when catching fish.<\/p>\n
The latest victim was a member of the Army, whose body was
\nbadly mutilated following detonation of a bomb. It is believed
\nthat the man was killed by the fish bomb that accidentally
\nexploded.<\/p>\n
Environmentalists and scuba divers say explosives have caused
\nextensive damage to coral reefs in the Lampung Bay and the Sunda
\nStrait.<\/p>\n
Sinek Kurniawan, an instructor with the Corona Diving Club,
\nhas reported that coral reefs in Lampung waters have been
\nseriously damaged. The main cause is unchecked fish bombing.<\/p>\n
Explosives can yield a larger catch in a shorter time, but the
\ndestruction to the reefs, which provide a home for marine biota,
\nis heavy and widespread.<\/p>\n
\"Good and intact coral reefs are hard to find in Lampung Bay
\nand Sunda Strait,\" Kurniawan said.<\/p>\n
Kurniawan's finding is confirmed by Anshori Djausal MT, who
\nonce led a surveying team to investigate coral reefs for tourist
\ndevelopment projects in Lampung.<\/p>\n
Anshori said he hoped the authority given to the Navy's Teluk
\nRatai base to oversee security in the area would deter use of
\nexplosives by local fishermen. As well as bombing fishing sites,
\nthe use of potassium cyanide to catch aquarium fish is also
\nwidespread.<\/p>\n
\"Coral reefs in Padangcermin and Teluk Ratai, which were
\nbattered by bombing, began to grow again, thanks to the navy's
\nsupervision,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Environmental activists from Coastal and Sea Networks (Jaring-
\nPELA) also voiced their grave concern over the destruction of the
\nreefs during their meeting held in August in Medan.<\/p>\n
They also expressed their concern over the methods and
\nmanagement of fishery projects; ventures they considered harmful
\nto the interests of small-scale fishing interests.<\/p>\n
The activists called for \"concrete actions\" to save the coasts
\nand the seas in Lampung from further destruction.<\/p>\n
\"It is not only the reefs and the fish which are threatened,
\nbut also the small-scale fisher folk. Actions should be taken to
\nmaintain the people's livelihood and dignity so that they won't
\nbe marginalized,\" says Herza Yulianto, a Jaring Pela activist.<\/p>\n
The traditional fishing communities are increasingly
\nmarginalized. They are powerless in their battles against the
\ngovernment and large-scale fishing ventures, which usually hail
\nfrom other provinces.<\/p>\n
It is understood that local traditional fisher folk are not
\ninvolved in the destruction of coral reefs in the Sunda Strait
\narea around the marine national park near Mt. Anak Krakatoa.<\/p>\n
Residents in the area claim that they often see fishermen from
\nWest Java and Bandarlampung using explosives. People residing
\nclose to Lampung Bay relate a similar story. They say the bombing
\ninvolves people from other areas.<\/p>\n
Lampung has 35,375 square kilometers of land, 1,105 kilometers
\nof coastlines and 69 islands.<\/p>\n
The environmental degradation in eastern Lampung coasts began
\n15 years ago, along with the influx of migrants who turned
\nmangroves into brackish prawn ponds, as well as agricultural
\nland. Conflicts over land ownership has worsened ecological and
\nsocial problems.<\/p>\n
With financial assistance from USAID, a cooperation project
\ninvolving the Bogor Agriculture Institute, the University of
\nLampung and the Lampung provincial Planning Board has led to the
\ndevelopment of a Lampung coastal map. However, a follow-up
\nworking program is yet to be developed.<\/p>\n
Lampung environmentalists say they are beginning to take
\naction to protect coastal residents from the impact of the
\ncontinuing destruction of their ecosystem.<\/p>\n
Yulianto said the issues to be addressed included the
\nconversion of coastal land, destructive fishing methods, the
\ndestruction of coral reefs, pollution of the sea and the
\nviolation of local people's rights.<\/p>\n
The Nature Lovers (Mapala) organization from the University of
\nLampung plans to provide guidance to villagers in Ketapang and
\nPadangcermin, southern Lampung, on conservation and economic
\nempowerment.<\/p>\n
\"We are appalled by the ruination of coastal resources and
\ncoral reefs. Local residents are marginalized and nobody cares.
\nWe mean to help them to improve their welfare,\" said Mapala
\nchief, Devi Kartika.<\/p>",
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