16 Aug Strengthening Banda Islands Marine Protected Area (MPA) Network

CTC, in collaboration with the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (MMAF) and the Provincial Government of Maluku, organized a workshop on August 14-15, 2017 in Sanur, Bali, to strengthen the Banda Islands MPA Network.

The workshop, which was attended by 16 participants representing local and district government, Banda Sea MPA Management Unit, University of Pattimura as well as community representatives from Hatta, Rhun and Ay Islands.

As a result of the workshop, participants had a clearer understanding on how to develop the Banda Islands MPA Network based on MMAF Ministerial Decree No.13/2014. The decree stipulates the stages of MPA network formation at both local and national levels, namely 1) initiation; 2) public consultation; 3) joint agreement; 4) final agreement and; 5) socialization.

The participants further signed an agreement to work on the development of the Banda Islands MPA Network, including a roadmap of activities and a timeline to fulfill the requirements for MPA Network establishment.

Some of the roadmap activities include public consultation and socialization in Banda Naira in September and in Ambon in October as well as the finalization of the Banda Islands MPA Network proposal and submission to the MMAF and Maluku Provincial Government by November 2017. The participants target the final approval of the Banda Island MPA Network establishment by the MMAF and Governor of Maluku by early 2018.