Indonesian fisheries official criticises plan to auction pristine 100-island archipelago

Conservationists have already raised concerns about Thursday's auction at Sotheby's of development rights to coral atoll network

Indonesia's plan to auction the development rights to an entire archipelago of more than 100 tropical islands has descended into chaos, with a fisheries ministry official joining conservationists in criticising the sale.

Sotheby's has described the uninhabited pristine Widi Reserve as one of the most intact coral atoll ecosystems left on Earth", and is due to open bidding on Thursday. No sale price has been stated, but prospective buyers will need to provide a US$100,000 deposit.