Fish bombs destroying Lampung's coral reefs
Fish bombs destroying Lampung's coral reefs
By Budisantoso Budiman
BANDARLAMPUNG, Lampung (Antara): Despite a high incidence of
tragic accidents, Lampung's fishing communities have expressed no
sign of remorse for their use of explosives when catching fish.
The latest victim was a member of the Army, whose body was
badly mutilated following detonation of a bomb. It is believed
that the man was killed by the fish bomb that accidentally
exploded.
Environmentalists and scuba divers say explosives have caused
extensive damage to coral reefs in the Lampung Bay and the Sunda
Strait.
Sinek Kurniawan, an instructor with the Corona Diving Club,
has reported that coral reefs in Lampung waters have been
seriously damaged. The main cause is unchecked fish bombing.
Explosives can yield a larger catch in a shorter time, but the
destruction to the reefs, which provide a home for marine biota,
is heavy and widespread.
"Good and intact coral reefs are hard to find in Lampung Bay
and Sunda Strait," Kurniawan said.
Kurniawan's finding is confirmed by Anshori Djausal MT, who
once led a surveying team to investigate coral reefs for tourist
development projects in Lampung.
Anshori said he hoped the authority given to the Navy's Teluk
Ratai base to oversee security in the area would deter use of
explosives by local fishermen. As well as bombing fishing sites,
the use of potassium cyanide to catch aquarium fish is also
widespread.
"Coral reefs in Padangcermin and Teluk Ratai, which were
battered by bombing, began to grow again, thanks to the navy's
supervision," he said.
Environmental activists from Coastal and Sea Networks (Jaring-
PELA) also voiced their grave concern over the destruction of the
reefs during their meeting held in August in Medan.
They also expressed their concern over the methods and
management of fishery projects; ventures they considered harmful
to the interests of small-scale fishing interests.
The activists called for "concrete actions" to save the coasts
and the seas in Lampung from further destruction.
"It is not only the reefs and the fish which are threatened,
but also the small-scale fisher folk. Actions should be taken to
maintain the people's livelihood and dignity so that they won't
be marginalized," says Herza Yulianto, a Jaring Pela activist.
The traditional fishing communities are increasingly
marginalized. They are powerless in their battles against the
government and large-scale fishing ventures, which usually hail
from other provinces.
It is understood that local traditional fisher folk are not
involved in the destruction of coral reefs in the Sunda Strait
area around the marine national park near Mt. Anak Krakatoa.
Residents in the area claim that they often see fishermen from
West Java and Bandarlampung using explosives. People residing
close to Lampung Bay relate a similar story. They say the bombing
involves people from other areas.
Lampung has 35,375 square kilometers of land, 1,105 kilometers
of coastlines and 69 islands.
The environmental degradation in eastern Lampung coasts began
15 years ago, along with the influx of migrants who turned
mangroves into brackish prawn ponds, as well as agricultural
land. Conflicts over land ownership has worsened ecological and
social problems.
With financial assistance from USAID, a cooperation project
involving the Bogor Agriculture Institute, the University of
Lampung and the Lampung provincial Planning Board has led to the
development of a Lampung coastal map. However, a follow-up
working program is yet to be developed.
Lampung environmentalists say they are beginning to take
action to protect coastal residents from the impact of the
continuing destruction of their ecosystem.
Yulianto said the issues to be addressed included the
conversion of coastal land, destructive fishing methods, the
destruction of coral reefs, pollution of the sea and the
violation of local people's rights.
The Nature Lovers (Mapala) organization from the University of
Lampung plans to provide guidance to villagers in Ketapang and
Padangcermin, southern Lampung, on conservation and economic
empowerment.
"We are appalled by the ruination of coastal resources and
coral reefs. Local residents are marginalized and nobody cares.
We mean to help them to improve their welfare," said Mapala
chief, Devi Kartika.