Picking up where we left off in our September’s update, apart from our patrol activities we will also feature some of our other activities’ highlights for this October’s update.

Through our Jaga Laut’s – Raja Ampat Marine Park Authority’s rangers’ official name – it can be said that there has been a slight increase in tourism activities, especially for domestic tourists.

With that said, Jaga Laut conducted a total of 54 patrols in seven Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), and recorded 16 violations in total, ranging from zoning violation, IUU (Illegal, Unreported, Unregulated) Fishing, to entrance fee-related.

Here are the highlights for October, 2021. We hope that you’d enjoy them, dear Readers.

Asia and Ayau Islands Marine Protected Area

Asia and Ayau Islands MPA’s Jaga Laut conducted a total of eight patrols, with two violations noted this month, all of which were zoning violations and were found on the 06^th of October, 2021.

One of the two fishing boats caught within the Core Zone during one of the patrols in Asia and Ayau Islands MPA – both fishing boats were locals. (Photo by: BLUD UPTD Pengelolaan KKP Kepulauan Raja Ampat/2021).

During the patrol that day, rangers found two local fishermen within the Core Zone. Rangers then provided them with information related to zoning system and the benefit of having sustainable fisheries, before directing them to sail away from the mentioned zone.

Mayalibit Bay MPA

During the course of October, rangers from Mayalibit Bay MPA patrolled six times, and found two violations – both fell in the category of IUU Fishing, when two certain types of fishing boats (in Bahasa Indonesia commonly known as “Jolor”) were caught without proper permits.

Crews from a “Jolor” were escorted to Mumes Village for an audience with the village’s chief. Although the intention behind the so called permit may be good, the Jaga Laut still considered it as a violation. (Photo by: BLUD UPTD Pengelolaan KKP Kepulauan Raja Ampat/2021).

The violators were caught on the 14^th of October, 2021, with crews from both vessel claiming that they’ve had a permit from the Village Chief of Mumes. Jaga Laut then brought them to Mumes, and it was explained that the permit were issued to raise fund for the local church’s manse. It was still considered as violation, Resources Use Monitoring (RUM) data was taken.

Dampier Strait MPA

Rangers from two monitoring posts in Dampier Strait MPA – Yenaduak and Gam – conducted combined total of eleven patrols in October, 2021. While Jaga Laut from Gam’s Monitoring Post did not find any violation, Yenaduak’s rangers found one violation.

The fishing boat caught by rangers from Dampier Strait MPA without any permit from nearby village. Boat crews claimed that they specifically fished for squid. (Photo by: BLUD UPTD Pengelolaan KKP Kepulauan Raja Ampat/2021).

The mentioned violation was found on the 05^th of October, 2021, when one particular type of fishing boat – “Jolor” – was caught without any permit from the nearby village. Rangers then provided the crews with information related to the do’s and don’ts’s in MPA, before directing it to sail to West Yensawai Village for them to ask for a permit.

Misool Islands MPA

Rangers from Misool Islands MPA patrolled the area seven times in October, 2021, and managed to find a total of four violations – two were caught on the 20^th, while the other two on the 30^th.

Violations found on the 20^th were two fishing boats from Fafanlap Village – one of the nearby villages – caught within the Tourism and Food Security Sub-zone – one of the no take zones in Misool Islands MPA. Subsquent of recording RUM data, rangers then explained the benefits of having a zoning system in the long run, before directing them to move from the mentioned zone.

One of the two fishing boats caught within a no take zone. Rangers finally directed them to sail away after recording RUM data and provided information on the MPA’s zoning system. (Photo by: BLUD UPTD Pengelolaan KKP Kepulauan Raja Ampat/2021).

On the 30^th of October, 2021, Jaga Laut caught two fishing boats, which in Bahasa Indonesia are commonly known as “Bagans,” which are not allowed to operate in any MPAs in Raja Ampat. Rangers then asked them to move away from the MPA.

One of the two bagans caught in Misool Islands MPA. Rangers then asked them to sail away from the MPA. According to our patrol data, Misool Islands MPA was particularly targeted by this type of fishing boat, which is not allowed to operate at any MPA in Raja Ampat. (Photo by: BLUD UPTD Pengelolaan KKP Kepulauan Raja Ampat/2021).

Kofiau–Boo Islands MPA

Kofiau-Boo Islands MPA were patrolled nine times during October, 2021, with Jaga Laut managed to find a total of two violations; one on the 09^th, and another one on the 12^th. Both violations involved a certain type of fishing boat commonly known in Indonesia as “Jolor.”

One of the two “Jolors” found during a patrol in October, 2021. They were recorded as IUU Fishing for not having all the required permits to operate within the MPA. (Photo by: BLUD UPTD Pengelolaan KKP Kepulauan Raja Ampat/2021).

Both findings were acting as collector, and were caught respectively with 400kg and 500kg worth of seafood bought from the locals. Crews from both vessels were explained MPA-related information by Jaga Laut from Kofiau-Boo Islands MPA, before directed to take care of all the required permits and sail away from the protected area.

Fam Islands MPA

Fam Islands MPA’s rangers conducted a total of eight patrol, and found two violations on the 14^th and 27^th of October, 2021, respectively with both fell in to the category of zoning violation.

The first violation was caught within the Tourism and Food Security Sub-zone. Jaga Laut directed it to sail away from the area, even though they claimed to have obtained a permit from Saukabu Village’s government.

The latter finding was found when rangers patrolled Mangginan Island without a permit from the locals. They were then directed to Pam Village to ask for a permit. RUM data were taken from all findings this month regardless violations or not.

West Waigeo Islands Marine Reserve

Wayag Monitoring Post’s rangers in West Waigeo Islands Marine Reserve conducted a total of five patrols this month, and recorded a total of three violations: all of which were tourism related.

A tourism vessel called MY Argo caught in West Waigeo Islands Marine Reserve with 31 passengers without entrance fee’s cards. (Photo by: BLUD UPTD Pengelolaan KKP Kepulauan Raja Ampat/2021).

One finding was found on the 20^th of October, 2021, when one liveaboard was caught carrying 31 passengers without entrance fee’s cards. The other two violations were caught on the next day, the 21^st – two yachts with 13 passengers without entrance fee.

One of the two yachts caught by the rangers from Wayag Monitoring Post. The mentioned vessels was found without any entrance fee for a total of 13 passengers. (Photo by: BLUD UPTD Pengelolaan KKP Kepulauan Raja Ampat/2021).

After two days of coordination with the marine park authority’s office in Waisai, all three vessels managed to fulfilled their obligation by purchasing the entrance fee’s cards. All representatives from the mentioned vessels, according to our rangers, were very cooperative.

For your information, West Waigeo Islands Marine Reserve is formally under the direct authority of the central government’s Ministry of Marine and Fisheries, while Raja Ampat Marine Park Authority provided technical assistance, such as patrol activity and all other related aspects, for this particular MPA. It’s management is officially run by the ministry’s technical implementation unit located in Waisai.

While Raja Ampat Marine Park’s Authority itself is nested under the West Papua Province Government’s Marine and Fisheries Agency, and formally has authority over the other six MPAs in Raja Ampat (For more information on Raja Ampat’s MPAs Network, kindly visit www.kkprajaampat.com for Bahasa Indonesia, or www.rajaampatmarinepark.com).

Table of Patrol Count from Seven MPAs in Raja Ampat from May 2020 to October 2021.

Activity Updates from Our Headquarter in Waisai and Other Activities

Following our prior update, we would like to share with you, our dear Readers, information about our ‘other’ activities beside patrolling the MPAs. All those ‘other’ activities relate to our efforts to increase the effectiveness in managing the MPAs in Raja Ampat.

Training and Conservation Class for Tourist Guides and Homestay Operators in Raja Ampat

In an effort to preserve natural resources through environmental friendly practices and implementation of sustainability principles, stakeholders collaborated in organizing a training for tourist guides working in Raja Ampat from the 07^th to the 09^th of October, and another training for homestay operators starting from the 11^th to the 13^th. Both activities involved a total of 62 participants.

This collaboration involved inter-governmental institutions, especially those with specific areas of management in Raja Ampat such as the West Papua’s Office of Conservation of Natural Resources, Sorong’s Office of Management of Marine and Coastal Resources, and Raja Ampat Regency’s Tourism Agency. Conservation International (CI) Indonesia was also involved as organizer.

Participants for the two training sessions consisted of representatives from Raja Ampat’s Indonesia Tourist Guide Association, Molobin Raja Ampat (MORA – Raja Ampat’s female divers community), and Transformasi Ekonomi Kampung Terpadu (TKAD), and members from the Raja Ampat’s homestay association.

Participants from the first training, 07th to 09th of October, taking picture in between sessions. (Photo by: CI Indonesia/2021).

Those two trainings presented various subjects from hospitality in tourism, terrestrial conservation, benefits of conservation and sustainable tourism, marine ecosystem, organic and non-organic waste and their impacts towards the environment, MPA’s management, protected species, to tourist guide’s roles in conservation.

Between classes, the two trainers also discussed several contemporary issues related to tourism in Raja Ampat, one of those topics was regarding the two entrance fees initiated by the Raja Ampat’s Marine Park Authority and Raja Ampat Regency’s Tourism Agency.

Workshop on Marine Tourist Guide in Raja Ampat

From the 11^th to 13^th of October, Terumbu Karang Indonesia (Terangi) Foundation conducted a workshop on “Marine Tourist Guide,” which was followed with another activity, “Assessment of Certificate of Competence for Marine Tourist Guide” on the 14^th to the 15^th of October.

Beside sessions of presentation and discussion, the workshop conducted on the 11th of 13th of October, 2021, also trained participants to conduct basic emergency response such as CPR. (Photo by: BLUD UPTD Pengelolaan KKP Kepulauan Raja Ampat/2021).

At least 40 participants from several government and non-governmental institutions were involved in the five-days event, from the Ministry of Marine and Fisheries’ Raja Ampat Work Unit, Raja Ampat’s Marine Park Authority, Raja Ampat Regency’s Tourism Agency, Professional Association of Divers Raja Ampat (PADRA), and several dive guides across Raja Ampat.

Rapid Survey and Field Assessment on Coral Reefs’ Condition in Several Locations

One of the programs conducted by the Coordinating Ministry of Maritime and Investment and the National Economic Recovery’s Indonesia Coral Reef Garden (ICRG), invited several stakeholders to participate, including Raja Ampat’s Marine Park Authority as the MPAs’ manager. The focus of the program is to prepare 25 hectares of damaged or degraded coral reefs to be rehabilitated under the mentioned initiative.

On the 29^th and 30^th of October, 2021, Raja Ampat’s Marine Park Authority conducted a rapid survey and field assessment in several locations that have potential for rehabilitation and as a coral reef transplantation site.

The SEA People Foundation’s Arnaud Brival (Center) provided a ‘creative’ presentation to training participants regarding how to specifically position themselves during Manta Tow observations, so that the other team member can focus on the smart phone’s application on the speedboat. (Photo by: BLUD UPTD Pengelolaan KKP Kepulauan Raja Ampat/2021).

First day of survey was conducted along the coastal area around Hamu Eco and Putras Resort, and continued to Mioskun Island. While the next day, with representatives from The SEA People Foundation, the survey continued to Batanta Island, especially the waters surrounding Yenaduak Monitoring Post, continuing to Arefi and Yensawai villages. Data gathered from the two-day survey would later be presented to the coordinating ministry.

Besides the survey, several rangers from Raja Ampat’s Marine Park Authority were trained by the representatives from the SEA People Foundation to integrate the Manta Tow observation method – implemented throughout the survey – in the operation of the smart phone application . With such training, it is hoped that future coral reef monitoring efforts conducted by the marine park authority will become more efficient.

So, this is the update from October, 2021. We hope that you’d enjoy it and find it useful, dear Readers.

As usual, we would like to end this update by wishing you all the happiness and fine health! Stay tuned for our upcoming update.

 Thank you very much for your time, attention, and kind support.

*           The official name for Raja Ampat’s Marine Park Authority is Badan Layanan Umum Daerah Unit Pelaksana Teknis Daerah (BLUD UPTD) Pengelolaan Kawasan Konservasi Perairan (KKP) Kepulauan Raja Ampat.

**         Data and Information Staff for Raja Ampat’s Marine Park Authority