BREAKWATER OR BREAKDOWN?
The devastatation of fish habitats, does not bode well for future fish
populations, as juveniles haven’t even had time to reproduce yet.-IUCN
One is the great monetary incentive. In general, illegal coral miners earn ten times more than those who work at the coral mining kilns.
Corruption is another reason, says Tamelander. "Important people have wealthy connections, and policemen are underpaid".
The local offices that enforce regulations also lack the knowledge, capacity, and infrastructure to deal with the problem, he says.
More data needs to be gathered on the reefs and reef habitats as well. "Essentially, we have to link science with management," says Tamelander.
Providing alternative livelihoods will take time as studies need to be done first, says the government. Jobs are site specific and new jobs introduced depend on the socioeconomic situation, the culture, and the area.
Weeding out corruption, managing fisheries and coral reef habitats closely, and gradually shifting livelihoods away from industries that have been built around destructive reef practices, will be a huge step for Sri Lanka.
But it will be a vital one in the country's slow but steady process of rebuilding itself, post-tsunami.
' * ' * ' * '
« prev