Manaung Twsp villagers call for coral conservation

By Admin 21 Feb 2023

DMG Newsroom
21 February 2023, Manaung

Coral reefs off the coast of Pyin Kauk Village in Manaung Township, Arakan State, are in need of systematic conservation, local residents say, as they are being damaged by holiday-makers.

The coral reefs attract hundreds of visitors on weekends, many of whom step on them or chip off pieces of coral to take home with them, according to locals.

“Our villagers can’t watch them throughout the day. There has been little in the way of preservation efforts so far,” said U Thein Lin of Pyin Kauk Village.

Ma Khin Mi Mi Kyaw, another resident of Pyin Kauk Village, called on authorities and local civil society organisations to intervene.

“I’m afraid half of the coral reefs have been damaged. We want authorities to issue warnings,” she said.

The Manaung Township General Administration Department issued a bylaw in June of last year, warning people against breaking, taking and stepping on the coral reefs. The order also requires visitors to view the coral reefs only from designated areas.

The department warned of legal action under Section 188 of Penal Code and other existing laws for failure to comply with the order.

But visitors have failed to follow the order and authorities have not enforced it properly, resulting in further damage to the coral.

“Just issuing the order does not help. There must be activities to enforce the order. There is also a need to educate local people about the importance of coral reefs,” said Manaung resident Ko Khant Wai Lin.

DMG was still unable to contact the Manaung Township General Administration Department for comment as of press time.

The department’s order also prohibits fishing near the coral reefs, building huts and shops at the beach, and littering on the beach. Littering will pollute the local waters, with damaging effects on the coral reefs, said Manaung resident Ko Aung Myint Thu.

“Scientists should come and do research on how to conserve the coral reefs, and explain methods to local people. But no association has come so far to conserve the coral reefs,” he said.

The coral stretches for more than three acres along the local beachfront near Pyin Kauk Village, and the area has the potential to become an eco-tourism destination, locals say.

Coral reefs are habitat for numerous marine species. Reefs are formed of colonies of coral polyps held together by calcium carbonate. Most coral reefs are made up of stony corals, whose polyps cluster in groups.