WWF Factsheet: Ecological Status of Kei Kecil MPA

The Kei Kecil Marine Protected Area (MPA) is part of the Coral Triangle’s Sunda Banda Seascape, the most diverse marine ecosystem in the world. The 150,000 hectare MPA, located in Southeast Maluku District, Maluku Province, is home to hundreds of ecologically important species of fish, coral, and marine vertebrates including dugong, sea turtles, whales, dolphins, and sea birds. It also contains feeding grounds for the leatherback turtle (Dermochelys coriacea), or tabob, and migration routes for several whale species. This rich marine ecosystem contributes to livelihoods and food security across Indonesia. MPAs are a widely used management tool for protecting coastal natural resources. In October 2015, a team from WWF-Indonesia, the Marine and Fisheries Agency of Southeast Maluku, Tual State Polytechnic, Pattimura University, and Reef Check Indonesia conducted ecological surveys at 37 sites inside and outside Kei Kecil MPA. This survey occurred shortly after the establishment of the Kei Kecil MPA zonation plan to document baseline conditions. The goal of the expedition was to document the current ecological status of coral reef fish and benthic communities inside and outside of Kei Kecil MPA to help inform marine resource management. At each site (24 sites inside and 13 sites outside the MPA), the team conducted multiple transects of benthic communities (cover of hard coral, soft coral, and rubble) and fish communities (abundance and biomass of 15 families). Findings from this expedition will be compared against future surveys to track changes in the ecosystem and measure the impact of the Kei Kecil MPA on fish abundance, biodiversity, and ecosystem resilience.