183 Napoleon wrasse released in Pulau Panggang Protection Area

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Sub-Directorate of Food Security, Maritime Affairs, and Agriculture (Sudin KPKP) of the Thousand Islands Regency, together with the Directorate of Water and Air Police (Ditpolairud) of Metro Jaya Police, released 183 Napoleon wrasse (Cheilinus undulatus) seized from fishermen into the Pulau Panggang Marine Protection Area, North Thousand Islands. “This activity is carried out as a form of commitment to preserving the marine ecosystem, considering that the Napoleon wrasse is one of the protected fish species due to its increasingly limited population in the wild,” said the Head of Sudin KPKP Thousand Islands, Nurliati, in Jakarta on Tuesday. She stated that the release of the Napoleon wrasse is a concrete effort to maintain the sustainability of fishery resources in the Thousand Islands region. According to her, the release serves as a form of synergy between local government and law enforcement authorities in safeguarding the marine ecosystem. “The Napoleon wrasse is a protected species, so its existence must be protected together,” Nurliati said. The activity, she added, also serves as an educational medium for the community to become more concerned with the conservation of marine biota. “We hope that the community and fishermen can better understand the importance of protecting marine habitats and refrain from catching or trading protected fish,” Nurliati stated. “We continue to take action against the capture of protected fish. We also prioritise education for the community to jointly preserve marine resources,” revealed Bungin. He assessed that the presence of Napoleon wrasse plays an important role in maintaining the balance of coral reef ecosystems in the sea. “We hope this release activity will have a positive impact on the sustainability of the marine ecosystem in the Thousand Islands,” Bungin added. In agreement, Adehan, Secretary of Pulau Panggang Sub-district, also called on the community to keep marine habitats sustainable. “We hope the community becomes increasingly aware of the importance of protecting the marine biota in the Thousand Islands,” Adehan said.