Coral reef in Bangka Belitung Damaged

Pangkalpinang, Bangka Belitung Province (ANTARA News) - Around 30 percent of coral reefs in Bangka Belitung (Babel) waters have been damaged due to illegal tin mining and fish poaching activities, an official said.

Coral reefs in Lepar and Pongok (South Bangka), Tanjung Ular (West Bangka), Mendanau and Nasik Strait (Belitung) were damaged at an average rate of 30 percent, Dr Yulistyo, head of the Bangka Belitung marine and fishery service, said here on Tuesday.

On Bangka Island in particular, the coral reef damages were due to floating tin mining activities which used boats to absorb tin ore, he said.

The most damaged areas were in the coastal line where tin mining activities were carried out up to a depth of 30 meters, he said.

Coral reef damages could affect the province`s economy because reefs were important habitat of fish. When the habitat was damaged, the fish would also be gone and the province`s fishermen would be difficult to get fish, he said.

Another factor which damaged coral reefs was illegal poaching activities which used explosives, he said.

Indonesia has around 17 percent of the world`s total coral reefs.