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Regular, locally staffed patrols have eliminated shark
finning, turtle hunting, illegal fishing and all other extractive
practices inside the MCA. The entire reef ecosystem is now
protected, and previously depleted stocks of vulnerable
marine species are rebounding.
These MCAs ensure the long-term health of fish stocks
and the reef. Spillover to surrounding waters creates
abundant, sustainable catches for villagers. Communities
also benefit directly from lease income, municipal projects
and employment. Thanks to this partnership, local people
are active stakeholders in a system that guarantees long-term
preservation and shared enjoyment of their natural heritage.
Wakatobi Collaborative Reef
Conservation Program —
Southeast Sulawesi, Indonesia
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural
Organization (UNESCO) recently designated Indonesia’s
National Marine Park as a World Biosphere Reserve; it is
considered one of the most biodiverse marine ecosystems on
earth. In 1997 Wakatobi Dive Resort joined with local leaders
to establish the Collaborative Reef Conservation Program. The
program now includes 17 communities and covers 12.5 square
miles of what are now the best-protected reefs within the
National Marine Park. A diverse array of creatures both great
and small — from whales to pygmy seahorses — is found here.
Fishermen now report better catches at the perimeter of
the protected area than they previously saw in the entire
area. As a result, the community has gained an appreciation
for the benefits of reef resource management, which
includes increased income from fisheries. Regular payments
to the villages and job opportunities in the resort provide
compelling economic incentives to the communities to
preserve sections of the reefs for tourism purposes only.
Today, compliance with sanctuary rules is high, and the
partnership between the resort and the local villages has
proven to be one of the most successful and economical
conservation approaches in the region.
Tulamben Marine Reserve —
Bali, Indonesia
Bali’s Tulamben Bay sits at the convergence of deep-ocean
currents from the Pacific and Indian oceans. The resulting
upwellings of nutrient-rich waters foster an abundance of life on
the reefs, walls and sandy slopes and the wreck of the Liberty.
In 1979 the local villages designated all of Tulamben
Bay as an MPA, prohibiting fishing inside the bay. With
great foresight, Tulamben recognized the potential for
dive tourism to create sustainable and lasting employment
opportunities for the community. The strategy paid off,
and today Tulamben is home to resorts including Tauch
Terminal and Paradise, which are considered two of Bali’s
top dive destinations.
The area boasts an incredible array of life including reef
sharks, humphead parrotfish, groupers, jacks, barracudas
and unusual critters such as pygmy seahorses, nudibranchs,
harlequin shrimp, ribbon eels, seadragons and stonefish. In
addition, the Liberty wreck, just 100 feet from shore and
in only 95 feet of water, is one of the most accessible and
striking wreck dives in the world.
Shared Responsibility, Shared Benefits
Historically, local communities and their economies were
often excluded from the benefits of tourism. A growing
number of coastal communities are partnering with private
businesses to establish local MPAs, the success of which hinge
upon community participation and support. Engaging local
people in conservation and ensuring they benefit directly from
it creates sustainable conservation outcomes, protecting our
marine resources for generations to come.
AD
Mantas circle a cleaning
station in Misool, Indonesia.
Right, from top: Jacks school
on the Liberty wreck off
Tulamben. Cuttlefish
are common on the prolific
reefs of Wakatobi.
STEPHEN FRINK
STEPHEN FRINK
SHAWN HEINRICHS