Fishers setting the blue swimming crab internet within the sustainable fishing zone of Method Kambas MPA. Credit score: Wahyu Mulyono/ EDF
By: M. Khazali, Andi Yasser Fauzan, and Meutia Isty Wulandari
The Authorities of Indonesia has dedicated to defend its marine ecosystems, pledging to establish 32.5 million hectares of marine protected areas (MPAs) by 2030. This dedication helps the 30×30 goal of the International Biodiversity Framework, which goals to guard 30% of the world’s marine areas by 2030. To this point, the nation has made vital efforts by establishing 29.28 million hectares of MPA Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries, 2024). These MPAs serve as sanctuaries centered on conserving marine biodiversity resembling coral reefs, sea grass, and mangroves.
Amongst MPAs in Indonesia, the Method Kambas MPA in Lampung Province stands as an exception the place its conservation goal focuses on defending blue swimming crab juveniles and its sandy-mud habitats. This MPA was established to help the blue swimming crab fisheries administration in Lampung Fisheries Administration Space (FMA), making it the primary MPA in Indonesia to function a fisheries sanctuary.
The blue swimming crab fisheries administration plan targets two objectives: (1) defending the species and its ecosystem and (2) growing the socio-economic advantages for fishers and different stakeholders within the fishing business. To attain these objectives, the stakeholders assessed a number of potential methods primarily based on influence and feasibility and agreed on two administration methods: defending the blue swimming crab space and banning using harmful fishing gears.
The institution of Method Kambas MPA started with a desktop examine of the blue swimming crab situation within the East Lampung’s coastal space. In 2019, the Lampung Fisheries Company (DKP) recognized Method Kambas because the potential conservation space and advisable it to be designated as an MPA. To strengthen their advice, the DKP partnered with EDF to gather knowledge on blue swimming crab in 2019. The findings indicated that the waters surrounding Method Kambas MPA serves as a important habitat of blue swimming crab juvenile.
Method Kambas MPA zoning areas
The interval from 2020 to 2022 was an important part within the institution of the Method Kambas MPA. Throughout this time, the blue swimming crab co-management crew devoted vital effort in designing the world, defining its boundaries, and creating zoning and its rules. Their work additionally included participating instantly with native fishing communities, organizing consciousness packages, and conducting public consultations to elucidate the important function of an MPA in preserving marine biodiversity. Recognizing the necessity to defend the juvenile crab habitat from harmful fishing practices and preserving their conventional fishing grounds, the native communities finally supported the institution of the Method Kambas MPA.
The neighborhood participated in a dialogue on Method Kambas MPA zoning system.
After years of intensive efforts, on Jan. 3, 2023, the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries formally designated the Method Kambas MPA in Lampung as a fisheries sanctuary, protecting an space of 60,420 hectares. To make sure the efficient administration of this protected space, a complete administration plan was developed and approved by the MMAF on Nov. 12, 2024. This plan will function a guiding doc for MPA managers and stakeholders, outlining the methods and actions to be taken over the following 25 years to handle the Method Kambas MPA.
Regardless of its institution, Method Kambas MPA’s administration stays a piece in progress. Its success will closely depend on the effectiveness of its administration, which is evaluated utilizing the Technical Tips for Evaluating the Effectiveness of Conservation Space Administration (Evika), the nationwide MPA evaluation. This evaluation evaluates the MPA utilizing a share of 24 indicators achieved.
The Evika makes use of 3 scoring classes: (1) minimally managed (<50% of whole indicators), (2) optimally managed (>50-85%), and (3) sustainably managed (>85%). In keeping with the 2024 EVIKA, the preliminary analysis of Method Kambas MPA revealed a rating of 49.06%, indicating a “minimally managed” standing. The purpose now’s to achieve “optimally managed” standing within the close to future via ongoing collaboration with the federal government and stakeholders.
The designation of the Method Kambas MPA is a vital first step, however it is just the start of an extended journey. Successfully integrating conservation space and fisheries administration in a manner that advantages native communities stays a present problem. This was additionally expressed by the fishing communities who hope that the Method Kambas MPA will present long-term financial advantages to them and preserving their fishing areas. If we will efficiently combine the MPA with the administration of blue swimming crab fishery administration space (FMA), we’d not solely handle the communities’ aspirations but in addition pave the way in which for a more healthy marine ecosystem for years to come back.
Study extra about Indonesia’s work in integrating MPA and FMA administration on this earlier EDFish weblog.
