Volunteer Projects

VOLUNTEER PROJECTS


 

Paradise, Under Threat 

Raja Ampat, translated as ‘Four Kings’ and part of the Bird’s Head peninsula of West Papua, is home to more fish, corals and marine invertebrates than any other place on Earth.  But Raja Ampat needs your help. Blast and cyanide fishing has had a devastating effect on the seascape and although illegal, these destructive practices still occur sporadically. Over fishing is causing the marine life populations to dwindle as the delicate balance of the food chain is disturbed. What’s more, poorly planned and executed development has resulted in sediment pollution, as well as opening up areas of pristine rainforest to settlement and illegal logging. 

Pristine had coral colonies

Pristine had coral colonies

 

We’re also working closely with local communities. Our Marine Conservation and Community Projects help them to understand the importance of preserving their resources for generations to come while supporting them to develop alternative ways to make a living today.

But even though we have all these plans in action, it’s your time, energy and effort that will make the real difference.

Bomb fishing used to be prevalent here

Bomb fishing used to be prevalent here

At Sea Sanctuaries Trust, we’re determined not to let this vital area of marine biodiversity disappear. We’ve been working tirelessly with the local government to set up No Take Zones (NTZs) in the area to help protect the reefs and encourage repopulation. The result of this effort is two NTZs, totalling almost 70,000 hectares, in the Raja Ampat area. One is in the Pam archipelego around the uninhabited island of Penemu. The other surrounds the Bambu Islands, sometimes known locally as Mios. 


Volunteer with Sea Sanctuaries today 

Volunteer with us and enjoy a unique opportunity to live in, experience, and help protect our remote corner of paradise.

From on board the Hang Tuah we are privileged to look out over the Dampier Strait and regularly see pods of dolphin and porpoise, turtles, marlin and manta rays passing by. When we’re really lucky we can even spot migrating whales. There’s no shortage of life beneath the surface either, where our coral reefs are teeming with life. From sharks and trevally to blue ringed octopus and decorator crabs (not forgetting the pygmy seahorses) the check-list of things to find goes on and on.

Your time with us will be spent diving – conducting marine life surveys to collect invaluable base line data – as well as helping with community projects. There’s time to explore the islands, hike through jungle terrain, visit sacred lakes or kayak around Secret Bay. And if, like us, you just can’t get enough of the reefscapes we make time for fun dives too.

Volunteers

Volunteers