Coral reefs damaged

Coral reefs damaged

PADANG, West Sumatra: About 75 percent of the 1,800 hectares
of coral reefs in West Sumatra waters have been damaged due to
bomb fishing, an observer revealed on Friday.

As a result, some 5,600 traditional fishermen from several
regencies like Padang, Pasaman, Pariaman, Pesisir Selatan, Agam
and Mentawai Islands might lose their livelihoods.

A marine observer from Bung Hatta University, Eni Kamal, said
that the damage was critical and within five to 10 years the
reefs would probably vanish.

She said the government had yet to do anything about the
damage, which had also seen the disappearance of a large variety
of fish that once inhabited the reefs.

According to Eni, the province used to get 9,000 tons of fish
annually. Since the damage, people's income had dropped by 40
percent. Thirty percent of West Sumatra's residents make a living
from the sea, she said. (28)