To advance the role of Fisheries Extension Officers (FEOs) for the conservation of marine resources, CTC in collaboration with the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries conducted training on the role of MPAs for  coastal and small islands’ sustainable fisheries. FEOs from the Fisheries Management Area 714 in North Sulawesi, Gorontalo, Central Sulawesi and South-East Sulawesi, and Fisheries Management Area 715 in Maluku, North Maluku, West Papua, and East Nusa Tenggara, joined the training session.

Two training sessions were conducted in Bitung, North Sulawesi in late OCtober and early November, with 39 participants attending. During the training sessions, the participants learned about MPAs for small islands, fisheries and marine tourism management, the blue economy and how to develop businesses in fisheries and marine tourism using a Business Model Canvas.

To complete the training, participants joined field activities to observe the condition of coastal ecosystems and the potential of economic development in three ecosystems around Lembeh Strait; mangroves, and seagrass around the Pintu Kota, and coral reefs in Batu Angus, where the participants enjoyed snorkeling.