From September 26 to October 2, 2025, the Coral Triangle Center (CTC) joined hands with the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Forestry (MALFF), Atauro Island MPA Management Unit, Blue Ventures Timor-Leste, and the Roman Luan Foundation to carry out the Reef Health Monitoring (RHM) in the Atauro Island Marine Protected Area (MPA).

This activity brings together partners working across Atauro Island to collect data on coral and fish populations. The goal is to produce a single unified annual report for the Government of Timor-Leste, ensuring consistent, science-based information for the management and protection of Atauro’s marine ecosystems.

This year’s monitoring brought encouraging news. Atauro’s reefs remain healthy and vibrant. Several sites show more than 60% live coral cover, with most reefs dominated by living hard corals. Compared to the baseline data from 2017, both fish abundance and biomass have increased, signaling that the marine ecosystem is recovering and thriving under protection.

Reefs around Atekru stood out with some of the highest coral cover among the surveyed sites. Fish were especially abundant near Fatuu and Akrema, where large schools and species diversity were recorded. These findings reflect the growing health of the reef ecosystem and the effectiveness of ongoing conservation efforts.

During the dives, the team encountered an array of marine life, from reef sharks, sea turtles, and giant trevallies to lobsters, groupers, and schools of reef fish. Offshore, whales and dolphins were seen cruising through Atauro’s deep blue waters. Dive operators also reported sightings of dugongs near Beloi Village,  a hopeful sign for this endangered species.

A few sites showed minor signs of stress, such as damage from boat anchors, and patches of algae and sponge overgrowth.However, the overall water quality remained good and clear. These areas are being considered as potential restoration sites to further strengthen reef resilience.

Overall, the RHM results show that Atauro’s reefs are in good condition, with fish populations on the rise and coral ecosystems remaining strong. This success reflects the power of collaboration among communities, government, and conservation partners in safeguarding the rich marine biodiversity of Atauro Island MPA.

Writer: Kayla Azzahra, Marthen Welly

Photos: Marthen Welly/CTC, Cikal Qalnar/CTC, Eureka Amadea/CTC.