M

aritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister Susi Pudjiastuti said on Sunday that around 70 percent of the coral reefs in Indonesia had been damaged and needed to be restored.

'€œCurrently, only 30 percent of the coral reefs are in good condition, while the remaining 70 percent are damaged,'€ she said on Sunday as quoted by Antara news agency.

Coral reefs have been damaged mostly due to human activities such as fishing with explosives and potassium and marine litter, she stated.

She said that actions to save coral reefs were expected to help preserve and protect coral reefs in a sustainable way.

A team from the Navy recently conducted a survey of the coral reefs off Sine Beach in Tulungagung Regency, East Java, to study the damaged coral reefs.

'€œIn addition to identifying the coral reefs, we are also mapping out the areas for coral reef conservation in the southern part of the Tulungagung coastal area,'€ said team coordinator Maj. Mohammad Asad.

According to Asad, the survey will be progressively conducted in the offshore areas of Sine Beach, which covers an area of approximately seven hectares.

He said that the Naval personnel will undertake a coral reef conservation program by involving the participation of the local community in mid-August 2015.