By: Rafika Puspita Army (Writer and Documentary Assistant for Inner Banda Arc Sub-seascape, WWF-Indonesia)

The results of the harvest control rule (HCR) study on Koon waters were not the only thing WWF presented on March 18-19, 2017 at the East Seram Bappeda Office, Maluku.

Together with the Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries Management (EAFM) of Pattimura University (Unpatti), WWF also presented the results of the evaluation of the effectiveness of fisheries management and evaluation of conservation area management in marine protected areas and small islands (E-KKP3K) in Koon Island Small Island Park, Small Islands and Surrounding Waters, throughout 2015 - 2017. E-KKP3K is used to assess the extent to which the management of the area's resources can benefit socially, economically, as well as ecologically.

As the largest reef fish spawning area in eastern Indonesia, Koon Island (along with Neiden Island) in Gorom Island District has been reserved as a marine protected area through Regent Decree Number 521/189/Kep/2011 on August 1, 2011.

"Fish resources in Koon are in good condition although there are still some damaged spots," said Dr. James Abraham, Unpatti lecturer.

"The East Seram Environment Agency emphasized that there are spaces that must be rehabilitated. The assessment in general is at a moderate level. This means that the Koon area still provides functions for the community," he continued.

"Hopefully, in the next 10-15 years, we will be at a safe point, a green point. We have 3 years to get there," said Dr. James, representing the hopes of all those present that day.

Attention to connectivity between ecosystem components is realized through the application of EAFM. The EAFM framework consists of six domains, namely fish resources, habitats and ecosystems, socio-economics, institutional arrangements, and fishing technology.

"From the results of the E-KKP3K evaluation of the management of KKP3K Koon Island, Islands and Surrounding Waters, it appears that the management of the area is still not very significant, it has only increased with the issuance of the Regent's Decree related to the Management Plan and Zoning of KKP3K Koon Island, Small Islands and Surrounding Waters of Seram Bagian Timu Regency and related in the tourism sector because PES (Payment of Ecosystem Service) is already running," said Taufik Abdillah, Marine Spatial and Monitoring Officer, WF-Indonesia.

The EKKP3K assessment itself consists of 5 levels; level 1 (conservation area initiated), level 2 (conservation area established), level 3 (conservation area minimally managed), level 4 (conservation area optimally managed), and level 5 (conservation area independently managed).

The change in level 3 score from 54% in 2015 to 73% in 2016 proves that there are only efforts to accelerate the Management Plan Decree, Zoning and Governor Regulation of KP3K Pulau Koon Technical Implementation Unit that stand out. In addition, there is also an increase from the tourism sector in the area for the surrounding community.

Closing these two days of dissemination activities, WWF together with the parties developed a joint work plan for the improvement of fisheries management and conservation area management in the Marine Protected Areas and Small Islands (KKP3K) Taman Pulau Kecil - Koon Island, Small Islands and Surrounding Waters. This joint work plan will be submitted to the Provincial Government in the form of a Decree as well as the establishment of a Conservation Agency for East Seram District.