Status Ekologi, Sosial, Pemanfaatan dan Tata Kelola Sumber Daya Laut Kabupaten Maluku Barat Daya

Southwest Maluku District (Maluku Barat Daya or MBD) is located in the southernmost part of the Coral Triangle – the global center of marine biodiversity – and borders Timor Leste and Australia. The coastal resources of MBD are important for the protection of coastal ecosystems, fisheries, ensuring food security for communities across Indonesia, and supporting the national economy. One way to conserve the marine environment, optimize the sustainable use of marine resources, and support the welfare of surrounding hous holds is to formally establish a Marine Prorected Area (MPA) in the MBD. Establishing an MPA is in line with Maluku provincial government’s plan of increasing MPA coverage to 1 million hectares in support of a national fish production initiative. To support the design and implementation of marine conservation efforts in MBD, a joint research team from the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries, Department of Marine and Fisheries Southwest Maluku District, Pattimura University, Bogor Agricultural University, WWF-Indonesia and the Wildlife Conservation Society – Indonesia Program collaborated to conduct a rapid assessment of MBD. The rapid assessment was intended to: (1) provide insights for a scientific model to identify priority areas for fisheries productivity; (2) support efforts to conduct comprehensive marine spatial planning based on the best available data; (3) complement existing data by providing greater resolution of the marine and social conditions in the region.