Manado, Ekuatorial – Despite of Manado government’s clearance on its reclamation activities, expert slammed it as destroying the ecosystem and its marine biodiversity.
Since 1998, North Sulawesi had issued 19 reclamation permits, eight permits were issued by Manado administration for a total of 114 hectares and 11 permits were issued by Minahasa district government for a total of 36 hectares.
Sri Intan Motol, Head of North Sulawesi Coastal Marine and Small Islands, and Marine Resources and Fisheries Monitoring Agency said that all reclamation activities must undergo assessments and requirements before getting the permit.
“All of those reclamation activities in the list have obtained permits and followed regulations,” Motol said on Friday (30/1) adding that there were negative and positive impacts of social and economy situation without elaborating more.
Rignolda Jamaludin MS, lecturer at the Fisheries and Marine Study Faculty of Manado’s Sam Ratulangi University, slammed reclamation for destroying the ecosystem, loss of biodiversity, especially on mangrove, fishes, clams, crabs, and birds.
“In addition, it [reclamation] is increasing potential for floods as it’s changing topography or geomorphology and water flow in the area,” said Jamaludin. “Floods will be increasing if related to water sea level caused by global warming.”
He added reclamation also affecting steepness level, river composition, tide pattern, sea current pattern and water management. Yoseph Ikanubun