Public Awareness Of Coral Reef Conservation Improves

Waisai, W Papua, Aug 25 (Antara) - Public awareness of coral reef conservation in Raja Ampat Ditrict, West Papua Province, has improved, according to a local official. "In the past, there were many traditional fishermen who conducted destructive fishing practices by using bombs. Now, their number has decreased significantly," Syafri Tuherea of the Raja Ampat maritime and fishery office, said here on Sunday. The Raja Ampat district administration has carried out public awareness campaign on coral reef conservation over the past five years, he said. The public were told that the marine ecosystem did not only belong to the current generation, but the future generation as well, and therefore it should be protected and preserved. In line with the Tomolol Declaration issued in 2003, every stakeholder in Raja Ampat has agreed to conserve and manage marine resources sustainably. Raja Ampat has marine conservation area measuring almost 1,2 million hectares. The best preserved coral reefs are existing in Dampier Strait located between Waigeo and Batanta isles. In the southern part of Raja Ampat, Misool isle has endemic coral reefs which could not be found in other areas. Raja Ampat is often called "Heaven on Earth", "Miracle of Papua", "Underwater Paradise on Earth", or "Real Wonder of the World" for its mesmerizing marine panorama. Literally meaning "Four Kings", Raja Ampat is derived from a local myth and has one of the most beautiful marine panoramas in the world. The archipelago comprises around 1.7 thousand islands and encompasses more than 9.8 million acres of land and sea off the northwestern tip of the West Papua Province. It has four major islands: Waigeo, Salawati, Batanta, and Misool, which are home to ancient rock paintings. It has 1,320 fish species; 75 percent of the world`s coral species, 10 times the number of corals in Caribbean; five species of rare turtles; 57 species of mantis shrimps; 13 species of marine mammals; and 27 species of rare fish. There are also 60 varieties of crayfish, 699 types of soft animals or species of mollusks, comprising 530 species of snails (Gastropoda), 159 species of shells (bivalva), two species of Scaphopoda, five species of squid (Cephalopoda), and three Chiton species.