By: Frederik Peter Alan Batkormbawa (Yamdena MPA Site Representative, WWF-Indonesia Inner Banda Arc Subseascape)

The urgency of maintaining the natural potential of Maluku Tenggara Barat (MTB), called all levels of government to sit together in a focus group discussion last Friday, 18/08/2017.

The discussion was held by the Directorate of Conservation and Marine Biodiversity, Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries of the Republic of Indonesia, Maluku Province Marine and Fisheries Service (DKP), together with WWF-Indonesia Inner Banda Arc Subseascape (IBAS). The management plan and zoning of Coastal and Small Island Conservation Areas and Small Island Parks (KKP3K - TPK) of Maluku Tenggara Barat (MTB) became the focus of this discussion.

KKP3K is a marine area that is protected and managed with a zoning system, to realize sustainable management of fish resources and the environment. The zoning management plan (RPZ) will be a guide in managing the zoning arrangement of conservation areas, namely the core zone, utilization zone, sustainable fisheries zone, and other zones.

Previously, on August 15-17, 2017, rapid mapping was carried out on Seira Island, Wermakitan District, which is included in the West Southeast Maluku KKP3K - TPK area. This mapping covered Kamatubun Village, Rumah Salu, Temin, Welutu, and Werata Village - which were mapped to support the analysis of the future zoning map of the area.

The results of the rapid mapping were presented to the parties present that day. Starting from the MTB Regional Secretariat, MTB Fisheries Office, MTB Regional Development Planning Agency (Bappeda), MTB Tourism Office, Saumlaki Naval Base (Lanal), Directorate General of Marine Resources and Fisheries Monitoring (PSDKP) Saumlaki, MTB Transportation Office, to MTB Police.

"KKP3K-TPK MTB, has previously been reserved with Regent Decree No. 523 - 246/2016 which is located in Wermaktian, Wuarlabobar, Molu Maru, Yaru, and North Tanimbar Districts with a total area of 783,806 Ha," explained James Abrahamsz (Pattimura University Ambon).

"However, in October 2016, after the implementation of Law No. 23/2014, the management authority was transferred to the provincial level," he continued. "This transfer of authority should not hinder the process of establishing this MTB KKP3K-TPK. We are carrying this out together, with assistance from the KKP nationally."

The day's discussion aimed to oversee the process of MTB's KKP3K-TPK Management and Zoning Plan, by obtaining input from relevant SKPDs.

In the process of establishing KKP3K, ecosystem and social, economic, and cultural studies are required as RPZ documents towards the establishment of conservation areas (Permen KP Number 02/MEN/2009).

"The socio-cultural survey shows that the community lives from fisheries products such as sea cucumbers, lola, and abundant puri fish," said Subhan Wattiheluw, Section Head of the Regional Conservation Area of the Directorate of Conservation and Marine Biodiversity.

"The community still applies customary sasi for sea cucumbers. Besides using simple fishing gear, people also use floating cages and fishing cages," he added. Sasi is a restriction on resource utilization through the prohibition of taking marine resources within a certain period of time.

Meanwhile, ecological surveys include fish biomass and reef studies in the waters of Wermaktian District. "The survey was conducted at several points, namely Yayaru Island, Sukler, Seira, and Ngolin Island," explained Taufik Abdillah, Marine Spatial Planning and Monitoring Officer,WWF-Indonesia.

"The total biomass of target fish reached 2,294.54 kg/ha. The high biomass of target fish around the waters of Seira Island causes many fish from the Caesionidae family or what people usually call lalosi fish," said Noke Rijoli (Pattimura University Ambon) added.

"It is hoped that with this FGD, all inputs from SKPDs related to space utilization in KKP3K - TPK MTB, hopes for better management, all issues and problems in the field can be accommodated so that solutions can emerge to address these issues and problems," said Andreas Hero, Project Leader, WWF IBAS.
This discussion was closed with the signing of the minutes by all relevant parties present as a form of support to continue to oversee the zoning and management plan reserve of KKP3K - TPK MTB, until it is officially established.