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.