Dear readers, we are back to provide you with updates from the community-based patrol activities within the Raja Ampat Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) conducted in November, 2020.

Jaga Laut – the official name for the mentioned community-based patrol activities – from seven MPAs conducted a total of 65 patrols this month. The numbers showed that all of the MPAs under the Raja Ampat’s Marine Park Authority*** were be able to meet the minimum quota of 8 patrols per month; while some exceeded it.

Here are the highlights from the patrol conducted in Raja Ampat MPA Network.

Asia and Ayau Islands MPA

Out of 10 patrols conducted by Jaga Laut in November, the patrol team found a total of three violations, which all were found in the 16^th of November 2020. During the patrol that day, the rangers found a total of five fishing boats, and three were found within the Core Zone.

Jaga Laut personnel provided the three fishing boats with information regarding Asia and Ayau Islands MPA consisting of zoning system and the allowed fishing gear, prior to directing them to sail away of the mentioned zone. The rangers also sends all November findings regarding patrols to Resources Use Monitoring (RUM), regardless of violations or not.

Three violations were found during a day’s patrol in Asia and Ayau Islands MPA. All three were caught fishing within the Core Zone, and rangers immediately directed them to sail away from the mentioned zone. (Photo by: BLUD UPTD Pengelolaan KKP Kepulauan Raja Ampat/2020).

 Mayalibit Bay MPA

Rangers from Mayalibit Bay MPA conducted a total of eight patrols in November, and did not find any violations. In the same month, RUM data was taken from a total of 25 fishing boats found within the Traditional Utilization and Sasi Sub-zone.

One of the fishing boats found by the Mayalibit during a patrol on the 17th of November, 2020. That day, Jaga Laut encountered five fishing boats within the Traditional Utilization and Sasi Sub-zone. (Photo by: BLUD UPTD Pengelolaan KKP Kepulauan Raja Ampat/2020).

Dampier Strait MPA

It’s been quite a busy month for the Dampier Strait MPA rangers. Jaga Laut from Yenadwak Monitoring Post encountered a total of four violations. On the 14^th of November 2020, rangers found one bagan (fishing boat) including one smaller boat acting as its collector. Two other violations were encountered during a patrol on the 21^st of November: two fishing boats from Sorong were caught fishing within the Sasi area in Dampier Strait MPA.

Bagan encountered by Yenadwak Monitoring Post’s rangers on the 14th of November 2020. Jaga Laut provided the crews with information regarding MPA and its zoning system, and then escorted them away from the MPA. (Photo by: BLUD UPTD Pengelolaan KKP Kepulauan Raja Ampat/2020).

On the 19^th of November, 2020, both personnel from Gam and Yenadwak monitoring posts responded a report regarding eight dead sharks found in Putus Cape and Mansuar Cape. Discussion with the reporter suggested that it is urgent to apply Sasi for shark fishing. Follow-up regarding this issue will be updated.

During a patrol in the 24^th of November 2020, Jaga Laut from Dampier Strait’s Gam Monitoring Post encountered one bagan owned by a local from Kapisawar Village. Rangers gave them a stern warning and immediately directed them to sail away from MPA.

One bagan fishing boat was encountered by the Gam Monitoring Post’s rangers on the 24th of November 2020. (Photo by: BLUD UPTD Pengelolaan KKP Kepulauan Raja Ampat/2020).

On the 25^th of November, 2020, Gam Monitoring Post’s Jaga Laut surveyed a location of coral reefs presumed damaged by a ship’s running aground. The survey was a follow up from a report made by members of community that a ship named Kalanafat Putera 17, a Landing Craft Tank (LCT) type of ship, presumed to have run aground during transportation of donations to villages in Raja Ampat on the 20^th of November, 2020.  Update regarding resolution of this issue will be provided.

Visual documentation of coral reefs presumed damaged due to ship named Kalanafat Putera 17 aground on the 20th of November, 2020, in Dampier Strait MPA. (Photo by: BLUD UPTD Pengelolaan KKP Kepulauan Raja Ampat/2020). (Photo by: Jonas Müller – Cahaya Anak Papua Foundation/2020).

Misool Islands MPA

No violations were encountered by Jaga Laut from Misool Islands MPA in November. A total of eight patrols were conducted this month – RUM data was collected from all the utilization activities encountered.

One of the fisheries activity found during a patrol in November, 2020, in Misool Islands MPA. No violations were encountered this month. (Photo by: BLUD UPTD Pengelolaan KKP Kepulauan Raja Ampat/2020).

Kofiau–Boo Islands MPA

A total of eight patrols were conducted by rangers of Kofiau-Boo Islands MPA. From those eight patrols, one violation was encountered on the 05^th of November, 2020, when one fishing boat presumed using fish bombs was chased by the rangers. However, the suspected perpetrators managed to escape.

There is a strong indication that the suspected perpetrators came from Sorong. At a latter time, although this is yet to be confirmed, rangers received information that one of the suspected perpetrators was injured by explosives and was rushed to one of the hospitals in Sorong. This incident on the 05^th of November, 2020, was reported to law enforcers.

Fishing boat presumed using fish bombs within the Kofiau-Boo Islands MPA was chased by the rangers during a patrol on the 05th of November 2020. (Photo by: BLUD UPTD Pengelolaan KKP Kepulauan Raja Ampat/2020).

Fam Islands MPA

Out of eight patrols conducted by the rangers of Fam Islands MPA, a total of four violations were found – all during a joint patrol with two personnel from Indonesian Army on the 10^th of November, 2020. Four fishing boats from Sorong were found fishing within the Tourism and Food Security Sub-zone.

The four fishing boats claimed to have had a permission from one of the village chiefs to fish in the area, but the patrol team was having none of it. Subsequent to explanation regarding MPA and its zoning system, the patrol team escorted them outside of the MPA; RUM data was collected as well.

One of the Indonesian Army personnel was having a discussion with one of the rangers during a patrol on the 10th of November 2020. Four zoning violations were encountered that day. (Photo by: BLUD UPTD Pengelolaan KKP Kepulauan Raja Ampat/2020).

West Waigeo Islands Marine Reserve

Rangers from West Waigeo Islands Marine Reserve conducted a total of eight patrols this month, and did not find any violations. However, the patrol team encountered another patrol ship crewed by fifteen personnel from the Indonesian Ministry of Marine and Fisheries’ Fishery Supervisory Official for the eastern area of Indonesia.

Ministry of Marine and Fisheries’ patrol ship encountered by the rangers from West Waigeo Islands Marine Reserve during a patrol on the 18th of November, 2020. (Photo by: BLUD UPTD Pengelolaan KKP Kepulauan Raja Ampat/2020).

Table of Patrol Count from Seven MPAs in Raja Ampat from May to November, 2020.

Those are the updates from Raja Ampat’s Marine Park Authority regarding their Jaga Laut’s activity for the month of November, 2020. We will see you again in January 2021 for the updates from December, 2020.

 We sincerely hope this update would be useful for you, our Readers. Thank you very much for your time, attention, and kind support. As always: stay healthy and stay happy everyone. Oh, and, we wish you a merry Christmas and a happy New Year as well! 🙂

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

**         Raja Ampat Communication and Outreach Coordinator for Conservation International Indonesia

***        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.