Conservation Projects

CONSERVATION PROJECTS

Penemu Conservation Project

Our first project is based around the uninhabited island of Penemu in the Pam archipelago which is directly in the path of the strong nutrient rich currents of the Dampier Strait. The picture below show parts of Penemu where you can see the limestone karst clad in rainforest. What the photograph does not reveal are the dazzling coral reefs effervescing with life below the sea’s surface. Unfortunately, the rich populations of fish, invertebrates and corals are a haven for illegal fishermen.

Currently, the Pam archipelago lies outside the existing gazetted marine protected areas in Raja Ampat. After nearly a year of socialisation and discussion, Sea Sanctuaries Trust signed a Marine Conservation Agreement ("MCA") in November 2011 with the local stakeholders which has been endorsed by all levels of local government. The MCA runs for a period of 25 years and will enable Sea Sanctuaries Trust to work with the local population to protect these valuable habitats and also reduce the access of illegal fishermen in this part of Raja Ampat.

In December 2012 the Local Government of Raja Ampat created three special laws (Peraturan Kampongs) officially recognising the legal status of our MCA. Our MCA now has the full force of Indonesian law behind it and we are one of only a handful of NGO’s with this legal status in Indonesia.

The main objective of the MCA is to create substantial ‘no take zones’ (no fishing of any kind allowed) to protect the existing unique and highly biodiverse ecosystem. An additional environmental and ecological benefit is to allow recruitment of commercial fish species for the adjacent local fishing grounds where local villagers can catch fish using traditional methods for home consumption. The no take zone will include all important habitats and particularly spawning areas.

We have trained and employ 19 local villagers to act as rangers to patrol the No Take Zones to ensure compliance with the terms of the MCA. The Sea Sanctuaries ranger patrols combined with the presence of our floating field station Hang Tuah is preventing fishing in this unique & biodiverse area.

In 2013 Dr Gerry Allen & Dr Mark Erdmann conducted fish biodiversity studies in February 2013 which has given us an exceptional benchmark of fish species in both Penemu and Bambu NTZs. A summary of the highlights include:

An average of 281 fish species were recorded over 11 sites in Penemu, 3 with over 300 species (considered very exceptional) and one with 357 species, second only to nearby Kri.
2 possibly 3 new species of fish were discovered, collected and are being described.
We have observed large mixed pods of bottle nose and short fin pilot whales on 5 occassions in the viscinity of Penemu, with feeding and tail banging on one occasion.
A number of important observations of other wild life inside the no take zone have been made.
There are breeding populations of endangered coconut crabs on Penemu Island. These are traditionally conserved by a local land owner who also supplies juveniles to other islands on by request.
A significanet colony of frigate birds inhabits Batu Burung (Bird Rock) during the early part of the year and a mix of terns and herons nest on the same rock islands in June/July.
you can see a summary of our recent scientific survey on You Tubehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t9PGN6dpC3g

Project Bambu island No Take Zone 2

Our second project, which started in 2012, is to create and enforce a large second No Take Zone around the remote archipelgo known as Bambu island (or Mios) which is south west of Penemu. On 11 November 2011 we signed a Marine Conservation Agreement with local traditional rights owners, (adat) local villages & local government granting Sea Sanctuaries Trust the exclusive marine conservation rights to approximately 70,000 hectares (150,000 acres) of pristine islands, reefs, sea mounts and ocean.

An average of 281 fish species were recorded over 11 sites in Penemu, 3 with over 300 species (considered very exceptional) and one with 357 species, second only to nearby Kri.
2 possibly 3 new species of fish were discovered, collected and are being described.
We have observed large mixed pods of bottle nose and short fin pilot whales on 5 occassions in the viscinity of Penemu, with feeding and tail banging on one occasion.
A number of important observations of other wild life inside the no take zone have been made.
There are breeding populations of endangered coconut crabs on Penemu Island. These are traditionally conserved by a local land owner who also supplies juveniles to other islands on by request.
A significanet colony of frigate birds inhabits Batu Burung (Bird Rock) during the early part of the year and a mix of terns and herons nest on the same rock islands in June/July.
you can see a summary of our recent scientific survey on You Tubehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t9PGN6dpC3g