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Moving towards a collaborative management of the Arafura and Timor Seas

GEF-UNDP/PEMSEA Arafura and Timor Seas Ecosystem Action Programme

By IW:LEARN

June 7^th, 2020

Through the challenges that we are facing together as a global community in 2020, the Arafura and Timor Seas Ecosystem Action Phase II programme (ATSEA-2) has steadily been strengthening their capacity to move forward with important activities that will contribute to the sustainable management of the Arafura and Timor Seas (ATS) region.

These efforts are exemplified by meetings organized and attended by regional and national units in Indonesia and Timor-Leste within the last quarter of 2019 and first half of 2020.

Moving forward!

The Arafura and Timor Seas Expert Forum (ATSEF) was formed in 2002 as a space for experts concerned about the sustainable management of ATS region. It was the driving force behind the development and implementation of the first phase of ATSEA in 2010 to 2014.

After a five-year break, ATSEA-2 has finally begun. Hence, the Regional Project Management Unit (RPMU) of ATSEA-2 held a Focus Group Discussion on ATSEF in Jakarta on March 3 2020 with the objectives to share lesson learned on ATSEF activities and products, to share the ATSEA-2 programme, and to seek inputs for the establishment of Stakeholder Partnership Forum, as well as its mandate and role.

The Discussion was facilitated by Dr. Handoko Adi Susanto (Regional Project Manager of ATSEA-2), and attended by Dr Bambang Suprakto, A.Pi, S.Pi, MT (Indonesian National Project Director of ATSEA-2), Prof. Dr. Zainal Arifin (Indonesian National Institute of Sciences), Prof. Dr Etty Agoes (Padjajaran University), Ir. Elvi Wijayanti, M.Sc (Indonesian Coordinating Ministry for Maritime Affairs and Investment), Dr. Tonny Wagey (ICCTF), Niken Winarsih (Indonesian Fisheries Research Center), Iwan Kurniawan and Austin Faradian (UNDP Indonesia), and Dwi Ariyoga Gautama (Indonesian NCU of ATSEA-2).

The Partnership Forum is the next step for ATSEF. If ATSEF previously focused only on research with members from research institutions and governments, the Forum is expected to engage broader members, including from private sector, local communities, and civil society organizations. How the Forum with its membership, structure, and mechanism can be approved by a Regional Steering Committee and becoming functional is one out of many goals of ATSEA-2.

The focus group discussion was an important initial action to revive ATSEF and form a Stakeholder Partnership Forum. Following this meeting, current members will reach out to previous ATSEF members and approach potential new members.

There are still many steps to transform ATSEF to a Stakeholder Partnership Forum. Nevertheless, ATSEA-2 will continue to provide support to enable a functional and long-lasting Stakeholder Partnership Forum.

On the same day, members of the Indonesian National Coordinating Unit (NCU) attended a meeting hosted by the Indonesian Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (MMAF) in Jakarta.

Attendees of the ATSEA-2 Focus Group Discussion (FGD) on ATSEF in Jakarta on March 3 2020. Photo credit: ATSEA-2, 2020

Indonesia to guide fishers with sustainable fishing practices

On March 3 2020, MMAF through the General Directorate of Captured Fisheries launched a harvest strategy for fisheries management of blue swimming crab, snapper and grouper.

The harvest strategy is a guide for fishers to improve their fishing activities into a more responsible act, such as implementing minimum fish size (10 cm) or fish weight (500 gr) to be captured. For example, the capture of blue swimming crab is allowed for a carapace length of a minimum 10 cm. Furthermore, the strategy also regulates selective fishing gear and listed fishing boat permit requirements to ensure sustainable fishing practices.

On the same day, the foundation of The Fisheries Management Institution for The Fisheries Management Areas of Republic of Indonesia, known as LPP WPPNRI, was also launched. It is expected that the harvest strategy would be a reference for responsible fishing practices in 11 Fisheries Management Areas (WPPNRI) and the fisheries management institution would serve as a coordinating body to suggest fisheries management recommendations. ATSEA-2 is currently supporting the enhancement of LPP WPPNRI 718, that covers Arafura and Timor Seas, and the implementation of a better marine and fisheries management in the area.

Stakeholder meeting to develop a harvest strategy for fisheries management of blue swimming crab, snapper and grouper. Photo credit: ATSEA-2, 2020

Government of Timor-Leste commits to the success of ATSEA-2

In December 16 2019, ATSEA-2’s NCU in Timor-Leste hosted a “National Inception Workshop”, inviting representatives from national and local government ministries in the agriculture and fisheries from the programme’s five targeted municipalities – Manatuto, Lautém, Manufahi, Viqueque and Covalima. Joining and participating at the workshop were partner organizations; Timor Verde, the Coral Triangle Center (CTC), Conservation International (CI) and World Fish, with presentations and technical support by PEMSEA Resource Facility (PRF).

This workshop served as the starting point for managing the efforts to be expected in Timor-Leste and the region in terms of the ATSEA-2 programme.

Ms. Tuya Altangerel, UNDP Resident Representative highlighted that conserving Timor-Leste’s invaluable marine resources would favor and promote Timor-Leste’s niche in the tourism industry.

Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries, H.E Joaquim José Gusmão dos Reis Martins said the government’s commitment to enhancing regional collaboration in the ATS region is reflected in its support for the formulation, adoption, and implementation of the Regional Strategic Action Programme (SAP).

The workshop proved to be an important step towards effective and multilateral management of the ATS ecosystem. The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries has taken further steps by developing two strategic policy documents – the National Oceans Policies and National Fishery Strategic Plan – to align the priority action of the SAP with the National Strategic Development Plan (NAP).

Through these activities and many ongoing efforts, the ATSEA-2 programme is looking forward to enhancing its transnational forum to learn and support each other to better understand, serve, and manage the ATS region.

The National Inception Workshop for ATSEA-2. Photo credit: ATSEA-2, 2020

For more information on the Arafura and Timor Seas Ecosystem Action Programme please contact the Project Manager, Handoko Susanto (hasusanto@pemsea.org) and visit the project page on iwlearn.net.

ATSEA-2 is the second phase of the Arafura & Timor Seas Ecosystem Action (ATSEA) Programme and a regional partnership involving the Governments of Indonesia, Timor-Leste and Papua New Guinea with the support of the Australian Government in order to collectively manage high marine and fisheries resources in the Arafura and Timor Seas (ATS). The ATSEA-2 Programme started in 2019 and aims to promote sustainable development in the ATS region to improve the quality of life of its inhabitants through restoration, conservation and sustainable management of marine-coastal ecosystem as one of the area with highest productivity in the region to ensure the implementation of integrated concept, sustainable, and prosperity of the coastal people in transboundary area. ATSEA-2 is a Global Environment Facility (GEF) funded programme and managed under United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) as executing partner and Partnerships in Environmental Management for the Seas of East Asia (PEMSEA) Resource Facility (PRF) as implementing partner.