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)