Marine Conservation Publications

This paper presents a qualitative case study on the Nusa Penida Marine Protected Area (MPA) in Bali Province, Indonesia, examining the changes in its management effectiveness during a governance transition from district to provincial management (2013–2017). The study used the Indonesia MPA Management Effectiveness Evaluation tool (launched in 2012) and collected data through observation, interviews, and documentation review.

This paper provides an overview of the progress and status of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in the Bird’s Head Seascape (BHS), Papua, Indonesia, which is the epicenter of global marine biodiversity. The paper reflects on the BHS as a conservation success story but highlights the need to adapt and improve in response to rapid economic and environmental change. It concludes that BHS MPAs are successfully preventing biodiversity loss while providing essential ecosystem services for local communities.

Indonesia targeted 32.5 million hectares of marine protected areas (MPAs) by 2030 and it is expected that 20 million hectares of the area can be effectively managed. However, to administer the MPAs effectively and fairly, protecting biodiversity and benefitting the people is rather challenging. In achieving conservation targets, the management body should be in place and competent staff is needed. Realizing these conditions, it is necessary to identify appropriate strategies and solutions to meet the need of human resources to manage MPAs.

This paper investigates the impact of establishing the Ay and Rhun Islands Marine Protected Area (MPA) in the Banda Islands, Maluku, Indonesia, on reef fish resources. The research used Underwater Visual Census (UVC) to collect data on reef fish abundance, biomass, trophic level status, and size composition (large vs. small fish) for 10 target families. The analysis compared data collected before and after the MPA designation. Key findings show that while the total abundance and biomass fluctuated (but remained at good/high levels), the trophic level status and fish size composition changed to maintain a balanced condition between trophic groups and between large and small fish. The paper concludes that the Ay and Rhun Islands MPA has had a positive impact on the reef fish resources.

This paper explores the potential contribution of Other Effective Area-Based Conservation Measures (OECMs) in Indonesia to the national marine conservation network, alongside existing Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). With over 382 potential OECMs identified, the study uses a spatial approach to assess their expected ecological value, as national monitoring systems are currently absent outside MPAs. The paper highlights the unique strengths of OECMs, such as diverse local governance and socioeconomic benefits, but notes they face challenges from human pressures. It concludes that formally recognizing and strengthening these areas is a powerful way to complement the MPA network and significantly enhance conservation efforts in Indonesia.