Napoleon Wrasse's waterloo: Illegal fishing

Napoleon Wrasse's waterloo: Illegal fishing

Musadianto Madusila, Antara, Palu

Napoleon Wrasse (Cheilinus Undulatus Snell), the fish which
helps preserve the precious coral reefs by preying on a type of
starfish which devours coral, is becoming endangered due to
poaching.

If the Napoleon Wrasse no longer has a habitat in the coral
reefs, where they live and breed, a lot of marine animals might
soon become extinct in Central Sulawesi. In particular peril are
the species of coral fish and lobsters, whose life highly depends
on the presence of coral in the sea.

Apart from its dependence on compact coral reefs, Napoleon
Wrasse can also keep intact their coral habitat, protecting it
against the attack of the crown-of-thorn starfish (Acanthaster
Planci), which can devour a 50-centimeter stretch of coral reef
in 24 hours.

Napoleon Wrasse, in turn, is the main predator of poisonous
marine animals, such as the sea urchin and the crown-of-thorn
starfish.

In the waters off the Togean islands of Central Sulawesi, for
example, environmental researchers agree that the presence of
Napoleon Wrasse reduces coral reef damage and maintains the
delicate ecological balance of other marine creatures. "That's
what we have witnessed," said Yani Subekti Permana, an
environmental researcher and director of the Central Sulawesi-
based NGO, the Indonesian Friends of Nature.

The Togean chain in the Tomini Straits is one of several
places known to be Napoleon Wrasse's habitat in Indonesia. The
coral reefs in the waters of these islands stretch over an area
of 130,000 hectares. The population of this fish, said Yani, must
be protected against extinction in order that they, in turn, can
keep the proliferation of the crown-of-thorn starfish to a
sustainable level, thus sustaining ecological balance.

The protective measures being taken are targeted particularly
at stopping illegal fishing of Napoleon Wrasse. If the crown-of-
thorn starfish is allowed to freely proliferate, it will destroy
more and more of the coral reefs.

Yanti reiterated that one of the main reasons for the damage
to the stretch of coral reefs in Togean waters in the past decade
was the decline in the population of Napoleon Wrasse in this sea
conservation zone. This decline is attributable to intensified
fishing, especially that which relies on home-made bombs and
cyanide poison.

The data compiled by some NGOs joining the Togean islands'
Integrated Conservation Area Development Consortium estimated
that every year the damage to coral reefs in the region, measures
between 200 and 300 hectares. The crown-of-thorn starfish is
responsible for over 30 percent of the total damage to the local
coral reefs.

Shy Fish

Napoleon Wrasse, which is a favorite among Togean's
traditional fishermen as the price in the local markets can reach
Rp 50,000 per kilogram, is sometimes called a shy fish due to its
preference for living alone. During the daylight hours, it
usually swims in the gaps of the reef and once in a while pairs
of them are found. At nights they rest in coral gaps.

When young, Napoleon Wrasse, whose prey also includes small
fish, shrimp, crabs and sea cucumbers, looks pale with dark
vertical lines. When it is fully grown, a Napoleon fish, or
Maming as local people refer to them, turns bluish-green with
more vivid lines.

The fish are recognized very easily as they have thick lips
and a little swelling on the head. They can reach over 2.2 meters
in length and weigh up to 190 kilograms.

They prefer to live in relatively deep water, usually some 60
meters below the surface, and have a very low breeding rate so it
is difficult for them to reproduce rapidly, especially so, when
forced out of its natural habitat.

Research data in the salt cultivation area of Situbondo, East
Java, for example, shows that, of some 100 Napoleon fish eggs
hatched, only two or three fry typically survive.

Their life span can reach 50 years, and are commonly found in
Indo-Pacific waters.

Not for trade

The Convention on International Trade for Endangered Species
(CITES) has included Napoleon on its list of the animals
forbidden to trade in as the species are on the verge of
extinction.

Given the importance of the fish to the conservation of other
marine life, the Indonesian government has also included Napoleon
Wrasse in the category of protected animals under Law No. 9/1985.

The Minister of Agriculture has even issued the Decree
No.375/Kpts/IK.250/5/95 which bans catching the fish unless a
permit is obtained from the government.

To protect the fish from being sent overseas, the government
through the Trade Minister's Decree No.94/Kp/V/95 has also banned
the export of Napoleon, alive or dead, including parts of its
body.

Although this species has been protected by many legal
instruments, fishermen in Indonesia particularly those in the
Togean islands keep hunting them to meet the demand for business
and home consumption.

"But I don't see that they are afraid of hunting this
endangered fish because laws are poorly enforced. There are no
strict sanctions imposed on perpetrators. Besides, supervising
institutions are not available, either," said Harley, an activist
of Central Sulawesi-based Indonesian Environmental Forum (Walhi).

Harley lamented the fact that the local administration and
relevant institutions act as if they were not aware of the
regulations. So they issue permits for Napoleon Wrasse hunting.