Establishing the Kolepom Island Marine Protected Area (MPA)
After five years of a complex and lengthy process, the Papua Provincial Government finally established Kolepom Island Marine Protected Area (MPA) on September 26, 2020. Kolepom Island, also well-known as Dolok Island, is part of Merauke Regency, leaf-shapes, and separated only by the narrow Muli Strait from the mainland of Papua.The Governor of Papua Lukas Enembe signed a Governor Decree No.188.4/295/2019 to secure an area of 353,286 Ha in Kolepom Island, Merauke District, Indonesia, as an MPA. The MPA is designed to achieve sustainable management of key marine species and preserve the rare and protected sawfish species (Anoxypristis cuspidata, Pristis clavate, and Pristis pristis). The Indonesian government welcomed this new MPA because the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (MMAF) targets to establish a total of 30 million hectares of MPAs by 2030. However, establishing a new MPA is only the first step towards protecting and ensuring sustainable marine resources management. The next big challenge is ensuring the operational and effective management of MPAs so benefit the community. Creating an operational MPA management body and the development of a Management and Zoning Plan are two important steps towards effective MPA management.On December 30, 2020, Secretary of the Papua Province, Doren Wakerkwa followed up the decree by sign an appointment decree No. 188.4/21536/SET on Task Force Formation for the development of Kolepom Island MPA Zoning Plan. This task force is led by the Marine and Fisheries Office of Papua and supported by relevant national and provincial agencies, local universities, community leaders’ representatives from 3 (three) districts (Kimaam, Waan, and Tabonji), and ATSEA-2 Project. The Task Force will collect, compile, and analyse data and information, design zones and sub-zones, and do public consultations to garner inputs from wider stakeholders.
6920: Implementation of the Arafura and Timor Seas Regional and National Strategic Action Programs