15 Jul US Ambassador to Indonesia Mr. Robert Blake Visits Banda With His Family

From June 8-11, the Coral Triangle Center (CTC) hosted US Ambassador Mr. Robert Blake and his family in the Banda Islands. During his visit, Mr. Blake swam with hammerhead sharks, and was introduced to CTC’s marine and community programs in the Banda Sea.

The Banda Islands are located in the remote area of Maluku, Indonesia, and the archipelago comprises of 11 small islands. The Banda Islands are known for their rich history during the frenzied spice trade, and stunning marine life in the Banda Sea.While in Banda, Mr. Blake climbed well-known Gunung Api (Fire Mountain), snorkeled at Lava Flow and dived in the surrounding reefs. Three hammerhead sharks were spotted during his dive trip!

In the evenings Mr. Blake and his family were familiarised with our work in the Banda Islands , such as implementing and managing marine protected areas on Ay Island and Hatta Island, along with reviving the traditional Sasi system. Sasi is a set of rules and guidelines for the locals to follow in terms of what, and where they can fish.

It was a great visit and we would like to thank Mr. Blake and his family for their appreciation of our work and support for future developments in the Banda Sea.