Dynamite fishermen nabbed in Bali

DENPASAR, Bali: Buleleng Police have arrested seven fishermen who are believed to have endangered the natural ecosystem of the regency's western coast by catching fish with powerful homemade explosives.

Buleleng Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. M. Syafei said here on Tuesday that officers also confiscated two homemade bombs, a fishing boat, four outboard motors and four compressors from the suspects.

"The explosives are very powerful. They can damage an area up to 15 meters below sea level," he said.

Syafei said the suspects admitted that the two confiscated explosives were part of 15 others they bought from several unidentified men. Thirteen were detonated at various points along the coastal area of Grokgak over the last thirty days.

"The use of explosives is really irresponsible. Explosives indiscriminately kill all the fish in the area, and disrupt their reproduction cycle," he said.

"Furthermore, the explosives also gravely damage the ecosystem, such as the coral reef, which is one of this regency's most valuable assets in tourism." --JP