Reef scene - Barramundi cod, black coral, lace coral

Cromileptes altivelis

Raja Empat, Papua, Indonesia

Fuji S2 12-24 mm @ 24, 1/90 @ f/11

The Barramundi cod, a member of the grouper family, is highly valued in the live fish trade supplying Hong Kong and Chinese markets, and which relies heavily on the use of cyanide to stun the target fish, killing corals and many other smaller animals in the vicinity.

Preyfish often succeed in hiding under corals before succumbing, so cyanide fishermen take crowbars to dismantle sections of reef, causing more damage.

C. altivelis have been wiped out through much of Indonesia and the Philippins, so their presence of on a reef is always encouraging.