Indonesia is home to some of the most precious coral reefs in the world but the coral is under attack from local fishermen in search of an easy catch. They use cyanide and explosives to net fish and are killing off the coral in the process. In north-west Bali, environmentalists and marine police, park rangers and local people have set up marine patrols to try to stop the devastation. The patrols do not leave from the main harbour of Gilimanuk, where ferries loaded with passengers and freight set off for nearby Java. Instead, they secretly push off from secluded beaches early in the morning, out of sight of the town's fishermen. In a recent trip, at the top of the Bali Straits, the patrol came across a boat fishing in the coral zone - the clear waters that hug Bali's coastline. The fisherman was caught waist deep in the water, walking on the coral. A tyre with a net holding his catch was floating beside him - the tiny multicoloured fish destined for the aquarium trade. Clear warning The fisherman was ordered on to the patrol boat by the patrol leader, Kairo Sabar. He was reprimanded for fishing in the coral zone and his boat searched - but no cyanide or explosives were found. On this occasion he was let off with a strict warning. But within a few months fishermen will face instant prosecution if caught in the coral zone or using banned substances. The fisherman had to sign a statement form acknowledging he was fishing in a prohibited area. The patrol leader warned him that if he was caught with cyanide or explosives, his boat would be seized and he could face between five and 10 years in jail. Coral damage Indonesia's recent economic difficulties have increased the number of villagers and fishermen using the banned methods, which are a quick and easy way of getting food and money. The fishermen use cyanide to stun the fish. It makes them slower and easier to catch. Cyanide does not kill the coral outright but bleaches it, making it weak and vulnerable. Much more hazardous is blast fishing which kills the coral immediately. It happens under the cover of night when the boom, boom of the bombs can be heard from the shore. The explosions kill the fish, which are collected and sold to the restaurant and market trade. The coral is destroyed. | | Dynamite fishing in Indonesia Fishermen have been known to get violent when cornered and the marine police are armed. One police officer, Ahmad Colleag, recently came under attack from a group of angry fishermen. "When we tried to arrest them, the fishermen threw their bombs at us," he said. "It was very dangerous." Tourism hope The World Wildlife Fund was instrumental in getting the marine patrols off the ground. "We want the patrols to be sustainable so it is important that everyone with an interest is involved," said the organisation's Naneng Setiasih. That meant getting the hoteliers and dive schools on board, as well as enforcement agencies and politicians. It also meant talking to fishermen and educating them about the importance of the coral. Sandi Nyoman, who represents local fishermen, said times were hard and that many fishermen earned barely enough to feed their families, which encouraged some to use cyanide and blast bombs. "The fishermen are beginning to diversify," he said. "Some earn regular incomes by taking tourists out on snorkelling trips and taking them to the best dive sites." Protecting the coral is also essential for Bali's tourism industry. Increasing numbers of tourists want to dive and explore the beautiful underwater world. A recent report by the World Resources Institute, gave the reefs' potential economic value of $1.6bn a year. SCUBA FORUMDISCUSS THIS TOPIC - Dive in and have your say at Scuba Forum |
