Sikka coral reefs damaged

MAUMERE, East Nusa Tenggara: The increasing use of explosives in traditional fishing has caused damage to some 5,800 hectares of coral reef in Sikka regency, regent Paulus Moa said on Saturday.

Paulus said currently the regency had a total of 7,200 hectares of coral reef, of which only 1,400 hectares were still intact and undamaged.

He said local fishermen and fishermen from outside the province often used explosives in their daily fishing activities in the Sikka area.

The excessive use of explosives and poisonous chemicals such as cyanide would ruin the still untapped rich maritime resources in Sikka, Paulus said, adding that only 31.78 percent of the sea resources had been exploited so far. (yac)