PALU, Central Sulawesi: Maritime researchers from Conservation

PALU, Central Sulawesi: Maritime researchers from Conservation
International Indonesia (CII) have found that marine ecosystem
around the Togean islands here is endangered by the rampant use
of explosives and cyanide by fishermen.

CII assistant manager Ni Putu Sarilani said on Tuesday that
environmental damage resulting from the reckless fishing
practices had adversely affected coral reefs and the numbers of
Napoleon Wrasse, a fish species that is protected by law, each of
which are worth millions of rupiah.

She estimated that the coral reefs now only extended to some
78,000 hectares from their original extent of 130,000 hectares.

"The remaining area of living coral will continuously dwindle
if these destructive fishing methods do not stop," she said.

CII research last year identified 596 types of fish, 341
species of coral reef and 541 types of shellfish in Togean
waters. -- Antara