Global Warming Effects Coral Reefs: Bali

By Barrie | June 5th, 2007 | No Comments

Bali’s tourist pulling-power may be a thing of the past. In the West Bali National Park, the once common sight of vibrantly-coloured clown fish swimming among healthy pink anemones is becoming rare. And larger fish are increasingly uncommon.

Rising sea temperatures are aiding the bleaching process on coral reefs.

Experts say climate change is hitting Bali’s coral reefs hard, turning once vibrant diving locations into bleached shadows of their former glory.

While it struggles to recover from the effects of two terrorist bombings, Bali’s tourism industry has to face the problems of global warming.

Greenpeace activists in Bali’s busy Kuta district have staged a protest, urging greater action to tackle the problem of climate change.

The warming situation has been compounded by the widespread, but illegal, use of cyanide and explosive lures by local fishermen.

Despite a government ban, fishermen are using potassium cyanide to catch fish. They spray the highly toxic compound into holes in the coral to flush out the fish, which are then scooped up.