Indonesia protects 900,000 hectares through network of Marine Protected Areas

Here's some good news.

Through the setting up of seven separate Marine Protected Areas (MPA's). A vast 900,000 hectares of tropical water are newly protected in the Indonesian archipelago of Raja Ampat. Raja Ampat is in the far east of Indonesia, bordering the Island of West Papua and is well know as Marine Biodiversity Hotspot. Click HERE for an overall map of the area.

This announcement by the Indonesian Minister of Marine Affairs and Fisheries Mr. Freddy Numberi, was as a result of efforts and campaigning of the local Fishing Communities and NGO's organisations such as Conservation International.

What has been happening in the recent past is that because of encroachment by non local commercial fishing boats in the area the local fishing communities have been suffering increasingly from reduced catches, threatening local livelihoods. Local communities will be jointly managing the MPA's.

The area can be visited and there are a number of liveaboard operators in the area (For example, MV Bidadari, who I dived with recently in Komodo, has a sister ship Sevens Seas, that operates in the area)

Full report from Conservation International, can be found Click HERE