Hello and welcome to the second edition of the 2021 ATSEA newsletter.

In this publication we deliver some highlights spanning the last three months of programme activities; from assessment model for the Arafura and Timor Seas (ATS) Regional Governance Mechanism (RGM) and Stakeholder Partnership Forum (SPF) to designing a resilient MPA network, we are delighted to share our progress and project outcomes with you.

Our featured story in this edition of the newsletter is a special piece focusing on the work of Norce Mote from Papua in Indonesia, who has devoted her life to education and fisheries. We  also encourage you to read our most recent news stories from Timor-Leste and Papua New Guinea.

We would like to personally thank everyone who attended our virtual discussions on marine and land-based pollution in the ATS Region, along with the participants who joined our recent webinar on gender equality and social inclusion.

We are confident that, with dedicated and strengthened collaboration, the ATSEA-2 Programme can continue to deliver meaningful impacts and lasting results at the regional level.

Take care and stay well,

ATSEA Team

The January-March 2021 newsletter brings recent news about the red snapper survey in Timor Lester, marine pollution survey in Rote Ndao, and sections with stories from Papua New Guinea and more.

The year 2020 has been a defining time for the world and for the ATSEA programme. Establishing a new project under a global pandemic is not an easy feat.
Nonetheless, ATSEA has continued to amplify their message and work throughout a consultative webinar series through the Stakeholder Partnership Forum, an establishment of a new Marine Protected Area in Kolepom, Indonesia, and a series of capacity building trainings on IUU fishing in Timor-Leste.

As we move forward to the second half of 2020, regional and national working units of ATSEA-2 ensures that activities continue to be implemented despite the limitations of face to face meetings caused by the current pandemic.

We welcome you to our first ATSEA e-newsletter!
This month is an exciting month for all of us at ATSEA program. This week we launched our new website, that you can visit on: www.atsea-program.com
You will find that it is filled with information related to our efforts toward regional collaboration to better manage coastal and marine resources in Arafura and Timor Seas (ATS) region.

ATSEA-2 was developed as a response to the high fisheries potential on the region, yet facing a declining marine ecosystem condition, both caused by anthropogenic pressure and climate change.