Asia-Pacific countries at risk from mismanaged oceans, experts say

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http://enn.com/news/wire-stories/2002/05/05142002/ap_47208.asp

 

Asia-Pacific countries at risk from mismanaged oceans,

experts say

 

Tuesday, May 14, 2002

By Sean Yoong, Associated Press

 

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia — Poor management of the

world's seas is destroying ecosystems and threatening

the sustainability of fisheries, international marine

experts said Monday.

 

" The degradation of the environment is worsening, so

many of our marine ecosystems are not functioning very

well, " said Chua Thia Eng, regional program director

of the Partnerships in Environmental Management for

the Seas of East Asia, which comprises scientists from

11 nations.

 

Chua, speaking at the start of a four-day Asia-Pacific

conference on marine science, said that ineffective

coastal protection policies in most countries had

triggered regional problems, including the destruction

of coral reefs. Bad management and human-made changes

to coastlines in many countries were also worsening

the effect of rising sea levels, which many scientists

believe to be caused by global warming.

 

Pacific island countries such as Tonga, Tuvalu, and

Western Samoa might become " uninhabitable " in the next

few decades, Chua said, adding that some scientists

believe Tuvalu could be completely submerged within 22

years if sea levels continue to climb.

 

Prof. Chou Loke Ming of the National University of

Singapore said Southeast Asia had 34 percent of the

world's coral reefs, which were considered among the

richest and most extensive. But more than half of

these species were " at high risk " from overfishing and

pollution, he said.

 

Countries such as Indonesia and the Philippines that

rely on reefs for their fisheries and tourism

industries have been forced into salvage and

restoration programs, including coral transplantation

and artificial reef-building, Chou said.

 

Law Hieng Ding, Malaysia's environment minister, said

many countries struggle with trying to curb

environmental damage while boosting coastal and

marine-based products. " Urgent action is required to

reconcile these competing interests and activities, "

Law told the conference, which brings together more

than 250 experts from 20 Pacific Rim countries to

discuss marine policies.

 

Law said the Malaysian government is spending 30

million ringgit (US$8 million) over the next five

years for marine research and will soon launch a

national policy for marine exploration and protection.

He said Malaysia had about 700 islands, many rich in

marine resources.

 

Copyright 2002, Associated Press

 

 

 

 

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