Integrated Survey in the Banda Sea Lays Scientific Foundation for the Zoning Plan of Lucipara Islands Marine Protected Area

The Maluku Provincial Marine and Fisheries Agency (DKP), in collaboration with Yayasan Konservasi Alam Nusantara (YKAN), Coral Triangle Center (CTC), and several local partners such as Yayasan Baileo Maluku, Yayasan Sahari, academics, researchers, and local communities, is conducting an integrated survey in the Lucipara Islands, Teon Island, Manuk Island, Hatta Island, and Manukang Island, Banda Sea, from October 15–29, 2026. This survey aims to collect scientific data to support an effective, adaptive marine protected area (MPA) management plan that balances ecosystem protection with sustainable use of marine resources.

This activity is a key step in establishing a marine protected area in the Lucipara Islands. The Maluku Provincial Government proposed this through Regional Regulation No. 2 of 2025, which is included in the Maluku Provincial Spatial Plan 2025–2044. Preparing the management and zoning plan documents is a critical step toward the central government's official designation of the MPA.

Currently, Indonesia’s marine protected areas cover 30.9 million hectares and are targeted to expand to 97.5 million hectares by 2045. Supporting this national goal, the Maluku Provincial Government and its partners have initiated the development of a 388,712.10-hectare MPA in the Lucipara Islands, Banda Sea. The area is designed to protect critical habitats and marine biodiversity and support the development of the Banda Sea as a national fishery hub, ensuring fair natural resource management for local communities.

Erawan Asikin, Head of the Maluku Marine and Fisheries Agency, stated that this survey is a crucial step in drafting the management plan and achieving the official designation of the Lucipara Islands MPA.  \He emphasized that, in line with Governor Hendrik Lewerissa’s directives, the provincial government hopes to protect the Lucipara Islands from illegal fishing and other destructive marine activities.

“The Maluku Provincial Government is strongly committed to supporting marine conservation while ensuring that coastal and marine resources continue to benefit local communities. Therefore, every phase towards establishing the protected area must be supported by credible data and involve diverse stakeholders. With proper protection and management, we hope this area can also grow into a world-class marine tourism destination that provides ecological, social, and economic benefits for the people of Maluku,” said Erawan.

Muhammad Ilman, YKAN’s Ocean Program Director, emphasised the importance of using a science-based approach in MPA planning. He designed the survey to generate biophysical, fisheries, socio-economic, and marine spatial use data that will inform future management decisions. The team will use the collected data to identify critical habitats, high-conservation-value areas, fish spawning sites, sustainable economic opportunities, and community resource use patterns.

“An effective marine protected area is not built on perception but on scientific evidence. Through this survey, we aim to thoroughly understand ecosystem conditions, key habitats, fish spawning areas, and how communities utilize resources. This data will form the foundation for zoning plans that accommodate biodiversity protection, sustainable fisheries management, and coastal community well-being,” he explained.

The survey will cover various aspects, including benthic habitat mapping, mangrove and seagrass surveys, coral reef health and resilience monitoring, marine mammal and sea turtle surveys, identification of fish spawning sites, blue carbon measurement, land-use mapping with unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), fisheries assessments, community socio-economic studies, and evaluations of coastal community resilience to climate change. All collected data will form a comprehensive, evidence-based MPA zoning plan.

Rili Djohani, Executive Director of CTC, emphasized the ecological significance of the Lucipara Islands and the Banda Sea as part of Indonesia’s high-biodiversity seascapes within the Coral Triangle. She noted the area’s ecological role as critical habitat for marine species, which requires proper management to ensure long-term sustainability.

“The Lucipara Islands are located in the Banda Sea, known for its vital coral reef ecosystems. They provide critical habitats for rare, threatened, and protected species like sea turtles, whales, and dolphins. These habitats also support fisheries productivity in surrounding areas. This ecological value makes sustainable management essential. This survey will help integrate ecological data with local wisdom and cultural values, allowing us to identify priority protection areas while ensuring responsible resource use,” said Rili.

Moreover, the proposed MPA will integrate Territorial Use Rights for Fishing (TURF) with local communities, adhering to the principle of Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC). This approach combines community ecological knowledge with scientific data and analysis to create a more effective and sustainable management model.

Through collaboration between government, communities, conservation organizations, academics, and other partners, the Lucipara Islands MPA is expected to become a model for marine management that preserves the Banda Sea’s biodiversity while providing long-term benefits to coastal communities.