More than a third of Indonesia's coral reefs are in bad condition, scientists said on Tuesday, raising concerns about the future of the archipelago's vast marine ecosystem. The precarious state of the country's coral reefs was revealed after a survey of 1067 sites across the sprawling country of more than 17,000 islands.
Scientists from Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI) found that just 6.5 percent Indonesia's coral reefs were in excellent condition, while 36 percent are in bad condition. Some 34 percent in sufficient condition with the rest classifed as being in good condition.
"Anthropogenic factors are having more influence on the condition of corals in Indonesia today," Dr Dirhamsyah, head of the institute's oceanographic research centre, said in a statement. "The use of coast has increased which can threaten the ecosystem." Dirhamsyah, who like many Indonesians has only one name, said greater public awareness was needed "for the survival of marine life" in Indonesia.
Indonesia has one of the most extensive coral reef systems in the world and more people live close to reefs than anywhere else on the planet, according to the Coral Reef Alliance. But the giant living organisms face a number of threats, including man-made climate change, destructive fishing techniques and nutrient and sediment loading. Indonesia is also the world's second biggest contributor to marine debris after China, producing an estimated 1.29 million metric tons annually.
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