KKP Finalises the Designation Process of Teon, Nila, Serua Marine Protected Area, a Key Step in Protecting Maluku's Marine Ecosystem

The Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (KKP), in collaboration with the Maluku Provincial Government and Yayasan Konservasi Alam Nusantara (YKAN), has finalised the process for designating the Teon, Nila, and Serua (TNS) Marine Protected Area in Central Maluku Regency through a Ministerial-Level Technical Evaluation Meeting held in Ambon on 23–24 July 2026.

This technical evaluation is the final stage before issuing the Ministerial Decree on the Designation of the Marine Protected Area, as mandated by Ministerial Regulation Number 31 of 2020 on Marine Protected Area Management. The team ensures that all documents, zoning plans, legal aspects, and alignment with local and national spatial planning policies are in order.

Before the ministerial evaluation stage, the designation process went through several phases involving multiple stakeholders. The Working Group (Pokja), led by the Head of the Provincial Marine Affairs and Fisheries Office, began preparing the documents by conducting surveys, mapping, and scientific studies from various perspectives, and then drafted the zoning plans. The team included provincial and regency officials, sub-district heads, academics, and development partners.

The next phase involved public consultations at the regency level and with local communities in Waipia, Teon, Nila, and Serua Islands. These sessions engaged local authorities, community leaders, traditional institutions, landowners, youth representatives, and women leaders. Feedback collected during these consultations formed the basis for improving the documents before the ministerial technical evaluation.

The proposed TNS Marine Protected Area spans approximately 683,826 hectares and is designed to safeguard vital ecosystems. The area will serve as an instrument for sustainable marine resource management and provide spatial certainty for activities compatible with conservation goals.

Maluku Provincial Marine Affairs and Fisheries Head Erawan Asikin stated that the local government is committed to following up on all evaluation recommendations to ensure the designation process aligns with regulations.

“The Maluku Provincial Government continues to strengthen coordination with the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries and all partners to ensure that all documents meet technical and administrative requirements. The designation of this marine protected area will serve as a crucial foundation for preserving Maluku's marine resources for current and future generations,” he said.

During the evaluation, participants refined the draft ministerial decree, harmonising the area's nomenclature, adjusting boundaries and coordinates, improving maps, aligning zoning, and synchronising it with Maluku Provincial Regulation Number 2 of 2025 on the 2025–2044 Spatial Plan. The evaluation also ensured that the zoning design adequately protects conservation targets, including coral reefs, seagrass beds, fish spawning grounds, and hammerhead shark habitats.

The technical evaluation is an important step to ensure the designated marine protected area has a strong legal, scientific, and governance foundation.

The designation aims not only to meet area targets but also to ensure that the marine protected area has a robust management basis, clear legal standing, and real benefits for biodiversity conservation and coastal communities. This technical evaluation plays a vital role in finalising all documents before the Minister of Marine Affairs and Fisheries officially designates the area,” he added.

YKAN’s Ocean Program Director, Muhammad Ilman, stated that as a development partner, YKAN supports the government in strengthening marine protected areas as part of sustainable ocean management.

“A well-designed marine protected area will be an important instrument to maintain ocean ecosystem health while supporting sustainable fisheries, local culture, and the well-being of coastal communities. Therefore, we support the completion of these documents so the area can be effectively designated and managed in collaboration with the government and stakeholders,” said Muhammad Ilman.

During the two-day meeting, participants prepared follow-up plans, revised the document schedules, and produced official minutes to serve as the basis for the final designation process. Once they address all technical inputs, the authorities will process the draft ministerial decree through the official mechanism until they formally designate the marine protected area.

The designation of the Teon, Nila, and Serua Marine Protected Area is expected to strengthen Maluku Province’s contribution to the national target for marine conservation area expansion while protecting critical habitats, enhancing coastal ecosystem resilience, and supporting sustainable marine resource use for local communities.