On 21 and 22 November 2023, the Indonesian Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (MMAF) hosted the 5th Regional Steering Committee (RSC) Meeting for the Arafura-Timor Seas Ecosystem Action Phase II (ATSEA-2) Project. The meeting represented a collaborative effort to engender sustainable practices and strengthen marine and fisheries governance in the Arafura and Timor Seas (ATS) region.
To the village community in the heart of Rote Ndao District in East Nusa Tenggara Province, Metri Nainatu (known locally as Mama Metri) is a source of inspiration and a symbol of resilience. Her transformative journey from fisher to entrepreneur has blazed a trail for other coastal communities to follow towards a more adaptive, resilient future.
In the picturesque coastal enclave of Natarbora in Timor-Lesteβs Manatuto Municipality, the Tok-Derek Women’s Cooperative has emerged as a beacon of community empowerment.
Started in 2019,Β ATSEA-2 is the second phase of the Arafura & Timor Seas Ecosystem Action (ATSEA) Programme; a regional partnership involving the Governments of Indonesia, Timor-Leste and Papua New Guinea, with the support of the Australian Government. This group works to devise and implement solutions to the most important transboundary marine issues facing the region.
Our primary aim is to conserve the biodiversity of the Arafura and Timor seas for the overall health of the ocean and the livelihoods of the communities who depend on it for survival. We also work to ensure the networks supporting these resources and revenues are operated efficiently, fairly and sustainably.
Our objective: to ensure the sustainable management and usage of living coastal and marine resources
Our goal: to sustain the flow of ecosystem goods and services from the Arafura and Timor Seas
From conserving natural ecosystems to empowering local fisheries and securing regional supply chains, the ATSEA-2 Programme sets out to ensure that coastal and marine resources are protected.
We are working in three countries in the ATS region: Indonesia, Timor-Leste and Papua New Guinea. In Indonesia, our sites are located in Aru District, Maluku Province; Merauke District, Papua Province; and Rote Ndao District, East Nusa Tenggara Province. In Timor-Leste, our sites can be found mainly on the south coast, in the Suai, Manufahi, Manatuto, Viqueque and Lautem Municipios, respectively. Lastly, in Papua New Guinea, ATSEA-2 is operating in the South Fly District of the Western Province.
ATSEA Grievance Redress Mechanism
ATSEA highly values Grievance Redress Mechanism (GRM), which acts as a vital tool for communication and conflict resolution with stakeholders and partners. It ensures prompt and confidential handling of concerns and complaints related to the ATSEA-2 Project’s impact on individualsβ and groups’ rights. Anyone affected, including project beneficiaries and the public, are encouraged to submit feedback. The GRM’s primary focus is to address complaints, promote transparency, and facilitate issue resolution.