Coral reef damage blamed for sinking of two islets in Indonesia

The Jakarta Post 22 Dec 09;

East Lombok fishermen exploiting coral reefs off West Nusa Tenggara are being blamed for causing two islets to sink, an official said.

Regent M. Sukiman Azmy, speaking with Research Minister Suharna Surapranata on Tuesday, said extensive exploitation of the coral reefs had placed other small islands in danger following the disappearance of Pengadah and Kapal islets.

“We have seen two islets sink and do not want such environmental destruction to ever happen again,” Sukiman was quoted as saying by Antara news agency.

Pengadah and Kapal were part of eight small islands in the Alas Strait in East Lombok, 100 kilometers east of the provincial capital, Mataram. West Nusa Tenggara has 278 islets, 33 of them in East Lombok regency.

Sukiman said his government had initiated a program to grow the local economy, which in turn would keep residents from exploiting protected coral reefs. The program includes the provision of fishing nets and boats.

“We also plan to provide the fishermen's families with cows to enable them to generate income from other sources,” he said.