TEMPO.CO, Malang - Around 75 percent of coral reefs in Malang has suffered from excessive exploitations and fish bombings by local fishermen.
"We arrested coral thieves three months ago. They were brought to justice," said Agung Revolusi Cahyanto, Chief of the Coastal and Marine Resources Division of the Malang Marine and Fishery Agency on Sunday, June 1, 2014.
The Police had arrested three suspects in an integrated sea security operation supported by the Marine and Fishery Agency, the Indonesian Navy, the Water Police and local residents. The Police seized about 450 coral reefs that were planned to be sold to a wholesaler in Bali.
The suspects were charged for violating Law No. 27/2007 on Management of Coastal Areas and Small Islands, and may be subject to two years of prison and a US$1.7 million fine.
As a result of the coral damages, the population of fishes in the Sitiarjo village in Malang, drops significantly. Earlier, each fisherman could manage to catch about 70 tuna fishes, while nowadays, their productivity has dropped by 50 percent.
EKO WIDIANTO
