Charismatic Marine Animals Continue to Thrive in Maluku’s Lease Islands and Ay-Rhun Marine Protected Areas

CTC’s regular Resource Use Monitoring (RUM) is an important part of managing Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in Maluku. By regularly doing this, Coral Triangle Center (CTC) and its partners can better understand activities around the MPA such as fishing, tourism, and others, while also identifying changes or potential issues that may require attention. RUM also creates opportunities to work alongside local communities and other stakeholders by bringing together field observations and local knowledge.

From July 28 to 30, in the Lease Islands MPA, CTC with Victor Mayaut, a local champion from Paperu Village, Saparua, conducted dugong monitoring using a drone. The aerial lens captured one dugong and a rare glimpse believed to be a guitarfish, a species that was never before recorded by the team in the Lease Islands. Encounters like these highlight the value of regular observation for a better picture of the marine life found within MPAs.

Strong winds and high waves kept general traffic low during the RUM patrol. The team recorded one fishing vessel, four floating lift net fishing platforms, and two fish aggregating devices (FADs), with no illegal violations found. Monitoring then moved to the Banda Islands, where CTC collaborated with the Kupang Marine Management Agency – Banda Service Unit, and the Maluku Marine and Fisheries Branch Office Cluster VI of the Banda Islands. Together with representatives from the Banda Subdistrict Office, the military and police, Universitas Banda Neira (UBN), the Banda Marine and Fisheries Resources Surveillance (PSDKP) Ambon, local fishers, the Indonesian Tourist Guide Association (HPI) Banda, and Selamon Village, the team carried out RUM for two days: 27 July 2026 in the Banda Sea Marine Tourism Park MPA and 29 July 2026 in the Ay–Rhun MPA.

In the Banda Sea Marine Tourism Park MPA, they recorded 49 resource use activities, including local fishing vessels and stationary FADs and floating net cages. In the Ay–Rhun MPA, the team logged 13 activities, including mooring buoys, FADs and active fishing vessels. Across all monitored zones, the team reported complete compliance with regulations. The numbers provide a snapshot of resource use at the time of the surveys. Beyond tracking ocean usage, these joint efforts helped share local knowledge, strengthen coordination and management, and build a common understanding of how the areas are being used.

Writer: Megan Alexis
Photos: Gerald Istia/CTC, La Ode Junaidin/CTC, Megan Alexis/CTC