Talk:Southeast Asian coral reefs
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The citations on this page are a little disorganized. It is a tad bit unprofessional.
[edit] from "coral reef"
text from the coral reef article that is too specific for that page, and should be incorporated into this article:
Destruction worldwide
Southeast Asia coral reefs are at risk from damaging fishing practices (such as cyanide and blast fishing), overfishing, sedimentation, and bleaching. A variety of activities, including education, regulation, and the establishment of marine protected areas, are underway to protect these reefs.Indonesia has nearly 33,000 square miles of coral reefs. Its waters are home to a third of the world’s total corals and a quarter of its fish species. Coral reefs of Indonesia are located in the heart of the Coral Triangle and have been victim to destructive fishing, unregulated tourism, and bleaching due to climatic changes. Many of the diverse coral reefs are being smothered by sediment and poisoned from cyanide fishing and organic pollution. Data from 414 reef monitoring stations throughout Indonesia in 2000 found that only 6 percent of Indonesia’s coral reefs are in excellent condition, 24 percent are in good condition, and approximately 70 percent are in poor to fair condition (2003 The Johns Hopkins University).
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The coral reefs of the Indonesian islands are the most diverse in the world as well as one of the most difficult natural phenomenons to restore. In 1991 Indonesian and Philippine governments made a move to decentralize the capacities of enforcement authorities with regards to coastal management. This led to a lack of national support and funding and a great challenge for smaller sectors in facing the destruction of Southeast Asian coral reefs (Courtney 42). Though in 2002, 18% of the regions reefs were officially destroyed and 85% were called threatened, efforts for restoration are becoming more evident. Some of these efforts include creating isolated marine sanctuaries, transplantation of reefs, forms of electrolysis to advance growth and restrictions on harmful fishing techniques. Along with being labor intensive and hard to enforce, these efforts are extremely expensive; the US is estimated to spend $100 million or more.
An ill-balanced economic concept has occurred in Indonesian and Philippine waters with coral reefs. A predicted net benefit of coral reef fisheries is 2.4 US billion a year throughout Southeast Asian locations, while poverty levels are at an extreme high. As outside sources provide supplies for illegal coral/fish harvesting, rural fishermen decline to these methods in order to simply battle against starvation. The cycle of destruction becomes perpetual. Brassratgirl 01:20, 30 December 2005 (UTC)
