Seminyak ~ The predatory crown of thorns starfish is threatening Indonesia’s portion of the ” coral triangle”, the richest area of coral reef biodiversity on the planet, scientists warned this week. The starfish have been discovered in large numbers by researches from the Wildlife Conservation Society and the Australian-based ARC Centre of Excellence for coral reef studies, who surveyed reef around Halmahera in Indonesia’s Maluku island, a press release said.
The triangle lies between Indonesia, Malaysia, The Philipines, Papua New Guinea and the solomon Island and contain more than half the world’s reef, considered building blocks for marine life.

More than 600 species of coral - 76 percent of those known and more than 3000 plant and fish species live in the Triangle’s waters.

Scientists said they feared the growth in numbers of the starfish was caused by poor water quality and could be an early warning of widespread reef decline.

“We witnessed a number of active out breaks of this coral predator. There was little to suggest that the reefs have been much affected by climate change as yet. The threat appear far more localized”, said Andrew Baird from the Centre of Excellence in the statement.

Researchers also saw evidence of blast-fishing which had occurred following communal violence in recent years.

“The good News is that the reef fish assemblages are still in very good shape,” said the wildlife Conservation Society’s Tasrif Kartawijaya. “So these reefs have the capacity to recover if we can address the current threats.”

The Coral triangle Initiative announced by six regional goverments at last year’s climate exchange conference in Bali ” offer hope for the reef in region,” the researcher said.

They said,however, that the role of research under the initiative, which they see as crucial in working out how to respond to the threat on the reef, should be made clearer.

The initiative aims to establish a network of protected marine zone, to decrease wear and tear on the reefs caused by fishing industry and to promote eco-tourism.

Marine resources in the coral triangle provide a living for 120 million people and one-third of the world’s tuna catches come from the area.(bali times)