For Esau Loe, protecting the sea is about safeguarding both nature and the future of his community. As Head of the Community-Based Surveillance Group (Kelompok Masyarakat Pengawas or Pokmaswas) in Holulai Village, Rote Ndao, Indonesia, Loe works with fellow community members to monitor coastal waters, raise awareness of marine conservation, and encourage the sustainable use

The coastal waters of Rote Ndao, Indonesia’s southernmost island, are home to one of the most important habitats for dugongs (Dugong dugon) in the Arafura and Timor Seas (ATS). Although these gentle marine mammals have become increasingly rare across much of their range, coastal communities in Rote Ndao continue to share valuable knowledge about where

Damaged and discarded fishing nets are becoming an increasingly visible challenge in Merauke, one of Indonesia’s most important fishing hubs. While Abandoned, Lost, or Otherwise Discarded Fishing Gear (ALDFG) and End-of-Life Fishing Gear (EOLFG) are not yet widely recognised as a major environmental concern locally, recent field observations suggest that early, practical, and locally appropriate

Understanding where the dugong presence, the condition of their seagrass habitats, and the knowledge held by local communities is essential for effective conservation. As part of the Dugong and Seagrass Conservation Initiative (DSCI), the ATSEA Program conducted a preliminary scoping mission in Rote Ndao, East Nusa Tenggara, from 22 to 24 April 2026 to identify

In the coastal villages of Western Province in Papua New Guinea, fishing is part of daily life. Small boats head out regularly, setting nets or traps in nearby waters. But not every trip ends with all gear returning. Some nets are lost. Some traps disappear. Over time, these losses add up, both for fishers and

In the waters of Merauke, South Papua, an important story of empowerment and sustainability is taking shape. Local women are not only fishing but also leading a change in the fisheries industry. The women-led groups Yanbui and Eltimo are showing that community involvement and female leadership can drive a real environmental and economic progress. At

For millions of years, sea turtles have played a vital role in maintaining the balance of marine habitats. However, populations have been dwindling in recent decades due to a combination of poaching, habitat destruction and bycatch. Evidence of this worrying decline can be seen in Com Village, Timor-Leste. Com Village is part of Nino Konis

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

Sofice Littik smiled kindly when we met at her home in Oeseli Village of Rote Ndao Regency, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT). The 49-year-old seaweed farmer invited us to sit in the courtyard of her house, which had just been repaired following damage caused by hurricane Seroja. “In the front yard of the house there was

The sun was just about to emerge from its slumber when the women from Oeseli Village, in the Southwest Rote District of East Nusa Tenggara set off towards their seaweed plantations. From a distance, you could see them carrying a roll of rope, a net or a knife, used as a tool for tidying and

Norce Mote S.Si., M.Si. was born in Yapen Waropen, on 7 November 1983. Norce, as she is generally known, is a mother of three who is devoted to two things: Family and nature conservation. Since childhood, she has aspired to become a teacher. However, this dream was put to one side when she followed her

More than 59 million people worldwide are engaged in capture fisheries and aquaculture. However, the role of women in this sector remains very minimal, at only 14% (FAO, 2020), even though women can play the same roles and have just the same level of impact as men. This lack of recognition can have implications for

Ranging from large company-owned ships to small fishing boats, rows of ships are commonly seen at anchor in ports throughout the Dobo region of Aru in Maluku. Operating in the Aru region, these have come from locations all over Indonesia; their ubiquity is a testament to the wealth of marine resources with which the Aru

GEF IW:LEARN World Oceans Day 2021 Special Issue On a grassy field, surrounded by wooden houses and overlooking the Torres Strait at the mouth of the Fly River, we were warmly welcomed by the Head of the of Kadawa village. Located just a short boat ride away from Daru Island, the village is one of

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

Aru Tenggara Marine Protected Area (MPA) is one of the regions in the Arafura Sea where efforts are made to protect the ecosystem and species. Although uninhabited, this entire 114,000 hectares of space is used as a fishing ground for people outside of the MPA and remains a petuanan or an area where customary communities collect/manage resources

In 2019, the district of Aru Islands claimed that they had a potential shrimp fisheries resources of up to 21,111.28 tons a year. Yet according to the national statistics of Maluku province in the same year, only 3,029 were harnessed, but still represent the largest number of shrimp fisheries in the province. The majority of

The Indonesian village of Karey may not be located in the Aru Tenggara (or Southeast Aru) Marine Protected Area (MPA), but their petuanan (or territories where customary communities collect/manage resources from land and marine areas) spreads across half of the MPA. Because of this, the Southeast Aru MPA, set in the Aru Islands Regency, Maluku Province, is

The South Coast municipalities of Viqueque, Manatuto, Manufahi and Covalima have recently become aware of the threats posed by marine debris washed ashore by strong currents and storm surges. Abandoned fish nets, floats and pieces and fragments of polypropylene rope often wash ashore or interfere with fishing activities. The plastic fragments break down into microplastic

In Indonesia, The Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (MMAF) has set a target to increase their Marine Protected Area (MPA) reaching an area of 30 million Ha by the year 2030. Up until the last quarter of 2019, the MPA zone has spread up to 22.68 million Ha with a total of 195 MPAs