TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Fisheries and Maritime Affairs Ministry is attempting to restore coral reefs in Indonesia. According to the 2017 Indonesian Insitute of Sciences (LIPI) report, 33 percent of the coral reefs deemed in critical condition.

The same study reveals that Indonesia’s eastern regions are home to merely 4.05 percent of coral reefs that are in a good condition.

“Coral reef conservation is an urgent matter,” said the Ministry’s Directorate General of Ocean Control Brahmantya Satyamurti at the Our Ocean Conference (OOC) 2018 in Bali.

Read: Minister Susi Reaffirms Indonesia`s Commitment on Coral Reefs

Brahmantya stated that Indonesia is similar to Monaco and Australia, which equally needs special attention toward sustainable coral reef preservation caused by massive changes in climate.

The Indonesian government has conducted preventive measures, such as by issuing the coral healthy certificate and preventing corals from being exported.

Head of LIPI Oceanography Researcher Dirhamsyah said that the institution is currently evaluating the location where an area of coral reefs had been exploited for export use.

Amri Mahbub