Multiple Uses Planned for New Indonesian Marine Reserve

Fidelis E. Satriastanti, Jakarta Globe 2 Feb 09;

The Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries on Sunday sought to allay fears that its proposed marine conservation area in the Savu Sea, to be the largest in the country, would lock the door on locals who depend on the rich waters for their livelihoods.

“We need to point out to local governments and fishermen that conservation does not necessarily mean it is totally off limits for them,” said Agus Dermawan, the director of conservation and national marine parks at the ministry.

He said a zoning system would classify some areas in the marine park to be set aside purely for conservation purposes and others for research, tourism and commercial fishing.

The proposed Savu Sea Marine Conservation Area, to cover a total of almost five million hectares, lies amid the Indonesian islands of Sumba, Savu, Rote, Timor, Alor, Pantar and Lembata. It is expected to gain status as a national marine conservation area during the World Ocean Conference in Manado, South Sulawesi Province, in May.

The area is the main migration corridor for 14 whales, including two endangered species, the blue whale and sperm whale.

Hirmen Sofyanto, The Nature Conservancy’s team leader for the project, said the reserve's establishment would also help maintain Indonesia’s political jurisdiction, as its waters lie between East Timor and Australia.

“There are an average of 59 international vessels traveling through the area almost every day, so it also faces possible contamination,” Hirmen said.

The country has a number of smaller marine conservation areas, many encompassing just one district, as in the cases of Nusa Penida in Bali Province, Raja Ampat in West Papua Province and Berau in East Kalimantan Province, Hirmen said.

In contrast, he said the Savu area “is going to be the country’s largest marine conservation area with around 14 districts involved.”

The Savu Sea is also a part of a commitment to set aside 10 million hectares for marine conservation by next year.

“In 2005, at the Convention on Biological Diversity in Brazil, SBY gave his commitment that Indonesia would reach 10 million hectares of marine areas in 2010,” Agus said.

The ministry currently manages 3.7 million hectares of marine conservation areas, while the Forestry Ministry still manages 5.5 million hectares of marine areas that fell under its jurisdiction before the Ministry or Maritime Affairs and Fisheries was formed in 1999.

“This will give us a total of more than 14 million hectares, well over the target,” Agus said.