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Taking a bold step: Indonesia establishes first Marine Protected Area in South Papua

GEF/UNDP/PEMSEA ATSEA-2

By IW:LEARN

February 24^th, 2023

Indonesia, the world’s largest archipelago, is renowned for its stunning marine biodiversity and is a critical global hotspot for marine conservation. In an effort to protect and preserve its marine resources, the Government of Indonesia recently announced the establishment of a new Marine Protected Area (MPA) in South Papua – specifically Kolepom Island in Merauke.

Community shrimp fishing activity / Photo credit: UNDP Indonesia for the ATSEA-2 Project.

Taking a bold step: Indonesia establishes first Marine Protected Area in South Papua

Through Ministerial Decree Number 5 of 2023 (KEPMEN-KP No.5/2023), the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (MMAF) of the Republic of Indonesia officially made the waters surrounding this island an official MPA on 5 January 2023. This designation not only added a new conservation area to eastern Indonesia, but also made Kolepom Island MPA the first of its kind in South Papua. The move represents one of five priority development programs identified by the MMAF and based on the blue economy, namely expanding MPA coverage to include 30 percent of Indonesia's total marine area.

According to the Director General of Marine Spatial Management (Pengeloan Ruang Laut/PRL) of MMAF, the PRL has taken steps to assist the Papua Provincial Government and support this target. This is achieved by working through the Sorong Coastal and Marine Resources Management Agency (LPSPL Sorong) as the Technical Implementation Unit (UPT) of the Directorate General of PRL. The objective is to support the establishment of the MPA on Kolepom Island by the MMAF.

"The total area of the Kolepom MPA is 356,337.90 hectares with three zones of division, namely the core zone of 35,458.27 hectares, the limited use zone of 286,572.61 hectares and other zones according to area designations of 34,307.02 hectares," said the Director General.

He also went on to explain that several other zones have been designated in the area, divided into shipping lanes, covering an area of 27,638.99 hectares; and zones considered to be religious/cultural sites, which span an area of 6,668.03 hectares. "The target for the Kolepom MPA is (to protect) the habitat for barramundi, croaker fish, sawfish and penaeid shrimp," he added.

MPA coverage in the waters surrounding Kolepom Island, South Papua Province

Marine Conservation that Supports Livelihoods

Three years ago, in order to secure important demersal fisheries habitats and protect species on Kolepom Island, the Governor of Papua, Lukas Enembe, signed Governor Decree No.188.4/295/2019, which initiated the process of designating Kolepom as an MPA. The waters surrounding Kolepom Island (known locally as ‘Dolok’ Island) are home to barramundi, shrimp and pelagic fish; these species are central to food security and offer a source of livelihood for the people of Kolepom Island and Merauke in general. Therefore, it is essential to ensure the management and preservation of these species’ habitat. This area is also an important habitat for an endangered species that is fully protected, both at the national and international level: the sawfish. There are three species of sawfish, namely the Anoxypristis cuspidata, Pristis clavate and Pristis pristis.

The Head of the Marine and Fisheries Agency of the Papua Province, Iman Djuniawal, explains that this determination was a long process, and one which had been pursued collaboratively. The issuance of this decision is a joint effort between stakeholders who are members of the Kolepom Island MPA Zoning Plan Development Task Force; together, they have collected, compiled and analysed data and information, designed zones and subzones, and conducted public consultations to gather inputs from stakeholders. This taskforce is led by the Papua Marine Affairs and Fisheries Agency and supported by the MMAF work unit, local universities, representatives of community leaders from three districts (Kimaam, Waan and Tabonji) and the ATSEA-2 Project.

This MPA will serve various important functions, including managing the use of natural resources in a sustainable manner, through protection and preservation of biodiversity and ecosystems; and limiting activities that damage ecosystems and the biota in them. Moreover, conservation areas such as this can help realise economic potential, through cultural attractions, tourism and other natural resources, which can directly improve the economy and raise living standards for people in the vicinity.

The designation of this MPA also mandates its sustainable management and preservation to the Provincial Government of South Papua. Furthermore, the preservation of such areas will also entail monitoring fishing practices, with a view to eliminating – or at least minimising – conflicts stemming from the use of fishing areas, especially for local fishermen and other, larger-scale fishing enterprises.

Iman also highlighted that this stipulation will also regulate the extraction of fish maw, shrimp fishing activities, utilisation of mangroves and managing habitats, ecosystems, fish species and other natural resources. “So it is hoped that the management of conservation areas by the South Papua provincial government can improve the welfare of the community," he added.

Fish swim bladders (also known as fish maw) are central to community economies in the ATS region / Photo credit: UNDP Indonesia for the ATSEA-2 Project.

ATSEA-2 Support for the Kolepom MPA

The ATSEA-2 Project has provided technical support in the process of establishing this area through a series of activities. It has contributed by facilitating capacity building and community awareness, while also providing assistance in public and technical consultations for the preparation of the zoning plan document for this conservation area.

Public/technical consulting assistance by the ATSEA-2 Project team / Credit: UNDP Indonesia for the ATSEA-2 Project.

This MPA establishment is aligned with Project targets to contribute, not only to the achievement of the Indonesian government's national commitments, but also to global sustainability targets. Determination of this conservation area is a major step towards reaching the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially point 14 (life below water), along with 30x30 global marine conservation targets. Going forward, institutional arrangements and management plans need to be carried out, which are expected to include capacity-building program planning for local communities and practitioners in the area, to secure ecosystem benefits and support the livelihoods of people living and working in the Arafura Sea region.

This milestone has been widely welcomed by marine and coastal communities, related stakeholders, and of course the community itself. The official launch will be conducted in Merauke within the first quarter of this year. Let’s hope this initiative can contribute to the strengthening of coastal community resilience and the preservation of marine ecosystems for generations to come.

About the ATSEA-2 Project

ATSEA-2 is the second phase of the Arafura & Timor Seas Ecosystem Action (ATSEA) program; a regional partnership involving the governments of Indonesia, Timor-Leste and Papua New Guinea, with the support of the Australian Government. Its objective is to collectively manage high marine and fisheries resources in the Arafura and Timor Seas (ATS) region. Since its inception in 2019, the program has been working to promote sustainable development in the ATS region and improve the quality of life of its inhabitants through a combination of restoration, conservation and sustainable management of marine-coastal ecosystems.

The ATSEA-2 Project is committed to safeguarding the livelihoods and prosperity of coastal people in the ATS region, particularly in transboundary areas, through the implementation of sustainable integrated concepts. ATSEA-2 is a Global Environment Facility (GEF)-funded program, managed and executed under the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). Partnerships in Environmental Management for the Seas of East Asia (PEMSEA) Resource Facility (PRF) is an implementing partner.

For more information on the ATSEA-2 Project, please contact the Regional Project Manager, Handoko Adi Susanto (hasusanto@pemsea.org), visit the project page on iwlearn.net or the project website.