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