Local resource owners, managers and users are using Marine Conservation Agreements (MCAs) to sustainably manage their marine resources and to ensure these resources
benefit the lives of coastal and island peoples. While government mandated protected areas do offer some protection, they alone cannot ensure that many of Indonesia’s remote regions are protected. MCAs empower local people to conserve local systems, help to improve marine protection, and deliver tangible benefits like food and income to the people who depend on them for their survival.