Coral reefs hurt by lack of policy

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The absence of a clear-cut policy on the management and conservation of coral reefs has led to the destruction of a part of the country's coral reef, an environmentalist said on Wednesday.

Douglas Storey of the Coral Reef Rehabilitation and Management Program (Coremap) told The Jakarta Post that currently coral reef management was in the hands of different government agencies.

Marine exploration, for example, lay within the responsibility of the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, he said, adding that marine conservation, such as the national ocean park, was under the authority of the Ministry of Forestry, while marine law enforcement was in the hands of the Navy.

Speaking outside a Coremap Workshop at Santika Hotel, Jakarta, Storey said that coral reef management should ideally be carried out by one agency.

Coremap, which is sponsored by several foreign donors including the World Bank, is an integrated government coral reef conservation program that is designed to help develop people's welfare through sustainable and friendly exploration of coral reefs in 10 provinces.

Storey acknowledged that the complicated problems of marine conservation had made it difficult for its management to be given to only one agency.

"As there are many aspects to coral reef management, including economic ones, who's going to handle the licensing for exports? Moreover there isn't any agency capable of handling all aspects," Storey said.

"The solution, therefore, lies in coordination among government agencies involved in coral reef management.

"However, this will require strong regulations, which clearly set out the responsibility of and coordination between each government agency," Storey said.