Enggano Island's Indigenous Refuse Giant Clams

Bengkulu (Antara Bali) - Indigenous people of Enggano Island, North Bengkulu District, Bengkulu Province, objected to the exploitation of giant clams (Tridacna gigas), or known as kima clam, as it could cause damage to the ecosystem in the island.

"We, six tribes in Enggano Island, strongly refuse kima clam exploitation because it causes damage to the coral reef ecosystem which becomes the buffer of the island," Tribal chief coordinator of Enggano Island, Iskandar Kauno said here on Saturday.

According to Iskandar, the exploitation was initiated by a businessman from Magelang, Central Java, who asked the local people to collect giant clams from the ocean floor and was ready to buy them  at a price of Rp.1,000 per kilogram.

The exploitation often reached the Kioyo conservation area, he said. "They did that with an excuse of only taking already dead clams. However, they would still tear up the (dead) clam from the living coral reef that could destroy the ecosystem".

"The kima clam is one of protected sea biota. But why would the Marine and Fishery Office of North Bengkulu issue a permit (for the exploitation)?" he questioned.

Kaitora tribal chief Raffli Zen Kaitora said  massive exploitation of giant clams  had also occurred once in 1983 but the government banned it later for the interest of the ecosystem.(IGT)