World Wildlife Fund

The District Government of Berau has issued a decree declaring the establishment of a 1.2 million hectare marine protected area (MPA). The Berau MPA encompasses the Derawan Archipelago and a zoning plan will be developed in close coordination with the communities living in the area. The zoning plan will include different types of utilization and no-take areas. Traditional use zones are areas where only small-scale traditional fishing is allowed, no-take zones are areas of critical habitat where no extractive activities will be allowed, usually covering areas where fish spawn and turtles nest. Other utilization zones are areas where legal types of fishing, tourism and other activities are allowed. The District Government of Berau worked together with the Steering Committee of Berau Coastal and Marine Management and other stakeholders in determining the outer boundary for the protected area.

Prior to the issuance of the Decree, the local House of Representatives (DPRD) has also approved the establishment of the Berau MPA, at a hearing with the Steering Committee, held in Tanjung Redeb, in November 2005. The hearing was attended by 30 participants comprising House members, Steering Committee members, officials from the district office for marine affairs and fisheries, district planning bureau, district natural resources conservation office, district tourism and cultural affairs office, Berau environment management board, and NGOs.

During the hearing discussions, House members stressed the importance of intensive socialization of the MPA to the people living within the area. Specific focus will also be given to the careful consideration of zoning in line with community and economic development needs, ensuring support for sustainable traditional fisheries, patrolling and law enforcement against illegal and destructive activities, development of alternative livelihoods, sustainable financing for MPA management, and creating strong legal foundations for marine conservation.

The District Government and the House of Representatives recognize the need to protect and manage the marine resources of the region, providing an example of a protected area that is initiated by local people through a bottom-up process. Such initiative is a key requirement in this decentralization era, and successful conservation of this region will benefit many stakeholders as well as the marine ecosystems in the short and long-term.

The Derawan archipelago is an integral part of the Sulu Sulawesi Marine Ecoregion that stretches across Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines. The region lies in the center of the Coral Triangle representing the highest levels of coral biodiversity in the world. Its reefs and related coastal livelihoods are critically endangered from continuing destructive and other unsustainable fishing practices. These islands also support the largest green turtle nesting and feeding ground in the Southeast Asia region.

In meetings with community members in more than 25 coastal villages, fishers have informed the Steering Committee that the effort of catching fish has increased meanwhile the amount of catch decreases. They feel the need for management in more sustainable ways of marine resource use and welcome the initiative to establish an MPA. They stressed that they must be informed and allowed to give input to the placement and size of zoning areas and look forward to participating in the management of their resources.

Resource use monitoring that was carried out by the Joint Marine Programs of TNC-WWF-Mitra Pesisir, showed that non-resident fishers catch more fish than local fishers, with revenues 20 times higher. This is because they use other fishing gears and spent more time fishing. With the establishment of an MPA, regulations that protect the interest of local fishers can be enacted, including for example regulating fishing gears and fees based on catches.

WWF, TNC and previously USAID-funded CRMP-II/Proyek Pesisir, are helping to reduce the threats caused by illegal and destructive fishing practices by enhancing capacity of local government and communities to manage the area better, enforcing existing Indonesian laws, and by raising awareness about the importance of protecting the area from destruction and non-sustainable practices for long-term benefits to local communities.

The Steering Committee was established based on a Berau Regent Decree No. 225/2004. The Team is mandated to facilitate and socialize district regulations on integrated coastal resources management, facilitate the formation of a Joint Committee for the management of a marine protected area, and serve as a communications, consultation and coordination vehicle in integrated coastal and marine management. The Team comprises the regent of Berau, deputy regent of Berau, district secretary, head of the Berau Office for Fisheries and Marine Affairs, Head of the District Planning Office, tourism and cultural office, Bapelda Berau, BKSDA Berau, Berau Forestry office, and Joint Secretariat consisting of NGOs Bestari, Kalbu, Mitra Pesisir, WWF, TNC and Kehati.

For further information, please call:
WWF-TNC Joint Program
Jl. Pulau Derawan No. 77
Tanjung Redeb, Berau 77311
East Kalimantan
T/F: +62-554-26107