February 10-15, 2020, through the support of the USAID Sustainable Ecosystems Advanced (USAID SEA) Project, WWF-Indonesia in collaboration with the West Papua Provincial Government facilitated the Management and Zoning Plan (RPZ) Working Group (Pokja) to conduct Public Consultation 1 of the Teo-Enebikia River MPA in South Sorong. Public Consultation 1 is one of the stages passed in order to Finalize the RPZ Document in accordance with Article 30 of the Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Regulation Number 30/PERMEN-KP/2010.

Public Consultation aims to obtain mutual agreement and input from the community, related to the RPZ of Teo Enebikia MPA, especially recommendations for the location and extent of zoning and strategic issues in the management of Teo Enebikia MPA. More than 200 people were involved in providing suggestions, recommendations, and mutual agreements in the target villages. The target villages were selected through the criteria of impactors and recipients who directly utilize marine and fisheries resources in the Teo-Enebikia MPA.

There are 18 target villages from 7 districts selected, namely; Mugibi, Solta Baru, and Mate villages in Inanwatan District; Tapuri and Yahadian villages in Kais District; Mugim and Nusa villages in Metemani District; Konda and Wamargege villages in Konda District; Tarof, Tambani, Kenaburi villages in Kokoda District; Sayal, Botain, and Kalabra villages in Saifi District and Seremuk District; and Sayolo village in Teminabuan District.

The RPZ working group played an active role in delivering the zoning recommendations, especially the West Papua Province Marine and Fisheries Service (DKP), the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries through the Sorong Loka - Coastal and Marine Resources Management (PSPL) implementing unit, the University of Papua's Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Science (FPIK Unipa), the South Sorong District Fisheries Service, the South Sorong KKP Initiative Team and the West Papua Province Forestry Service through the South Sorong Unit VI Protected Forest Management Unit (KPHL) implementing group.

In its implementation, the zoning scheme was underestimated by the community. The community thought the zoning system would marginalize access to fishermen's livelihoods. "So far, our fishing income is getting smaller, while operational needs are getting bigger as the fishing area gets further away. If some areas are closed again, we will increasingly lack access to fishing areas," said Ham Saru, customary rights owner of Sayal Village, Saifi District.

Proposed Change in Location and Area of Zoning

"After receiving an explanation regarding the zoning system and its designation, we agreed that there is indeed a need for marine space as a fish saving zone, but changes in its area need to be made, considering that the area recommended as the core zone is a fishing area for traditional fishermen," said Inanwatan District Government representative Petrus Porat.

The community proposed several changes, such as the location and area, for example the core zone in Kokoda District, the Kokoda community proposed that the area 5 miles seaward from the coastline including the utilization zone be changed to traditional fisheries sub-zone. Changes in location and area as well as zoning recommendations also occurred in the marine areas of Kais District, Inanwatan District, and Saifi District.

The community proposed several changes, such as the location and area of the core zone in Kokoda District.

The zoning agreement process is not always immediately accepted by the community. "We (Konda District community) rejected the Warungge River to be used as a sasi subzone by the Kais District community. Likewise, the expansion of the sasi subzone by the Saifi District community. That area is where our fishermen catch shrimp. Decision-making must involve us," said Johanes Mabruaru, a traditional leader of Wamargege village, Konda District.

In response, the RZP Working Group held a follow-up Public Consultation I in Konda District to hear stakeholders from 3 districts including tribal chiefs, namely the Nerigo Tribe (Kais District), the Yaben and Nagna Tribes (Konda District) and the Knasaimos Tribe (Saifi District). After conducting a participatory area mapping process, with the presentation of sasi sub-zones and their designations and management schemes by the Pokja, the Konda District community agreed and recommended a new sasi sub-zone to the North of Warungge River.

Proposed KKP Program

The community suggested that MPA management programs could be integrated into the Village's Medium and Long Term Development Plan (RPJM/RPJP) such as joint MPA monitoring programs, or programs promoted through collaboration schemes between MPA managers and mangrove forest area managers.

"We will try to push the MPA Program in the Village Planning and Development Meeting (Musrembang) so that it can be integrated with the RPJP/RPJMKam," said Yunias Sianggo, Head of Wamargege Village, Konda District. This is an answer to the community's recommendation for marine space management, especially the sasi subzone in the river area, where management will be based on village/customary regulations and directly monitored by KPHL.

As a follow-up to Public Consultation 1, the RPZ document needs to be revised to accommodate any suggestions and recommendations from the community regarding changes in the location and extent of zoning including the basis of scientific studies, MPA programs, and strategic issues. WWF-Indonesia under the USAID SEA Project supports a series of activities towards the establishment of Teo-Enebikia MPA. The document revision and review process will be accommodated at the RPZ Working Group technical meeting in the first week of April, and then continued at the Large Working Group meeting before the Working Group formulates the Public Consultation II scenario planned for the third week of April. The Public Consultation II plan is targeted to be carried out in the fourth week of April, so that the final revision of the RPZ draft document will be carried out in May, before moving on to the determination process by the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries.

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