09/12/2007

Asian nations act to save coral triangle under threat

BALI : Asian delegates at the UN climate change talks have renewed callsto protect the region's huge stock of coral reefs, partly blaming globalwarming for their alarming decline.

Six Southeast Asian and Pacific nations have launched a jointinitiative to save the "coral triangle", which contains more than halfthe world's reefs, considered building blocks for marine life.

"I regret to say that marine resources of our countries and our regionsare threatened by climate change, destructive fishing and pollution,"said Freddy Numberi, Indonesia's Minister of Maritime Affairs.

The countries aim to establish a network of protected marine zones, todecrease wear and tear on the reefs caused by the fishing industry and topromote eco-tourism. More than 600 species of corals - 76 per cent of those known - and morethan 3,000 species of plants and fish live in the waters encompassing thePhilippines, Timor Leste, part of Indonesia and Malaysia, Papua NewGuinea and the Solomon Islands.

"The coral triangle is the place for corals in the world, it's theglobal centre, it's the Amazon of the seas," said J.E.N. Veron, formerchief scientist with the Australian Institute of Marine Science. However, experts say the greatest threat is from rising seatemperatures blamed on global warming.

"We are precipitating a mass extinction of absolutely everything,"Veron said. "Corals are the first really big ecosystem to be wiped out byclimate change.

" Hotter seas bleach and weaken the algae that give the underwater sealife its vibrant colour and make it more susceptible to a mystery diseasekilling off the reefs.

The coral bleaching and die-off have been chronicled by scientistsaround the world in recent years, though some researchers differ overwhether there is a direct link with global warming.

Lida Pet Soede, head of the Worldwide Fund for Nature's coralprogramme, said the results were not in doubt with corals whitening, thendying and finally falling apart.

"The effects are there and it is quite dramatic," she said. The breakdown of coral reefs, known as a key foundation for sea life,will have a large impact.

"The fish need structures to hide, to eat and to reproduce." Marine resources in the coral triangle provide a living for 120 millionpeople. One-third of the world's tuna catches come from the area. - AFP