DILI, 22 november 2022 ( TATOLI)- Timor – Leste hosts the Coral Triangle Initiative (CTI) with six member countries to share information about each country’s coral reefs and to conserve extraordinary marine and coastal resources.
The Directorate General of Fisheries of the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, Acacio Guterres revealed that today Timor-Leste through the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries as the host of CTI is sharing information about coral reefs with member countries such as; the Philippines, Solomon Islands, Malaysia, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, and Timor – Leste.
“CTI has been established in 2008 and now Timor Leste is hosting the second time to share information on Timor-Leste’s coral reef management to members of each country,” Director General of Fisheries, Acacio Guterres told TATOLI at his office in Comoro Dili, on Tuesday .
According to Guterres, CTI was conducted virtually: “We presented the management of coral reefs and their species in the Timor Sea to the country members,” he said.
Guterres said Timor-Leste has more than 500,000 species of coral reefs in the Timor Sea, saying therefore the role of the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries is to protect and preserve coral reefs in the Timor Sea: “The purpose of protecting coral reefs is to provide comfort for fish and turtles as their breeding habitat. In addition, coral reefs are marine biota which can also attract tourists to visit Timor Leste,” he said.
“Through this virtual online we present a panoramic view of the beauty of coral reefs to CTI member countries regarding the working mechanism in preserving coral reefs by involving fishermen and prohibiting the destruction of coral reefs,”
According to Guterres the MoAF has sanctioned those who damage marine resources including coral reefs with a value of $ 500 – $ 5,000.
He said, in turn, the six-member countries appreciated the coral reef conservation implemented in Timor-Leste while adding that they would continue to work with Timor-Leste to protect the marine ecosystem.
Journalist: Camilio de Sousa
Editor: Nelia B.
