Known officially as the Ay and Rhun Islands Marine Tourism Park (Taman Wisata Perairan Pulau Ay dan Pulau Rhun), this marine protected area (MPA) in the Banda Islands, Maluku surrounds Ay, Rhun, and Nailaka Islands. Together with the separate Banda Sea Marine Tourism Park (Taman Wisata Perairan Laut Banda), it is part of the wider Banda Islands MPA Network. The Banda Sea is a biodiversity hotspot and long-term refuge for coral reef species, where strong currents enhance ecological connectivity. Each year during the Southeast Monsoon, upwelling brings cool, nutrient-rich waters to the surface, helping corals resist heat stress, boosting plankton growth, and supporting large pelagic fish. These features were central to the MPA’s design, which prioritized climate-resilient reefs and included upwelling zones in its zoning.
Details
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Date Established |
Reserved by the Maluku Government in 2016; Officially established by ministerial decree in 2021 |
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Hectares |
61,178.53 hectares; including 876.90 hectares of no-take zones |
Zoning Map
Such conditions support remarkable biodiversity. Surveys in the Banda Islands have recorded over 300 species of hard corals, including Acropora desalwii, found only in this region, and more than 500 reef fish species. The area also contains eight species of seagrass and supports green and hawksbill turtles, seasonal gatherings of hammerhead sharks, and dolphins and whales such as sperm whales, pygmy blue whales, and blue whales. Healthy populations of commercially valuable fish, including Napoleon wrasse, thrive here, along with spawning aggregation sites for groupers, snappers, and other reef fish that help sustain local fisheries.
Alongside its natural wealth, the Banda Islands have a deep historical and cultural legacy. In the 17th and 18th centuries, the archipelago provided the world’s only source of nutmeg and mace, earning it the name “Spice Islands.” Rhun Island is notable for being traded by the British to the Dutch for Manhattan Island (then New Amsterdam), highlighting its value and strategic position. The islands still bear traces of the colonial era in forts, buildings, and plantations, and served as a place of exile for founding fathers Mohammed Hatta and Sutan Sjahrir. Cultural traditions remain strong, from ceremonial dances to the annual kora-kora boat race, with Ay Island among six traditional villages that compete under strict hereditary rules and rituals.
Management of the Ay–Rhun MPA blends modern conservation planning with traditional practices. Led by the Provincial Government of Maluku, it incorporates sasi—an indigenous system that temporarily closes harvest of resources such as trochus (lola) and sea cucumbers (teripang)—into the zoning plan to honor local heritage, improve compliance, and enhance effectiveness. The Banda Sea Marine Conservation Team supports long-term management, bringing together local fishers, government staff, non-governmental organizations, academics, and the Indonesian Navy and Police.