MARITIMEPOSTS.COM – The Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (KKP), the Government of Maluku Province, and the Nusantara Nature Conservation Foundation (YKAN) have advanced the designation process for the Marine Conservation Area in the waters of Teon, Nila, and Serua (TNS) Islands, Central Maluku Regency, through a Ministry-Level Technical Evaluation Meeting held in Ambon on July 23–24, 2026.
The technical evaluation marks the final stage before the issuance of a Ministerial Decree on the Establishment of the Conservation Area, as mandated by Ministerial Regulation No. 31 of 2020 concerning the Management of Conservation Areas.
This process is intended to ensure that all supporting documents, zoning plans, legal aspects, and alignment with regional and national spatial planning policies have been fully harmonized.
Prior to reaching the ministry-level evaluation stage, the conservation area designation process had undergone a series of steps involving a wide range of stakeholders.
Preparation of the proposal began with surveys, mapping, and scientific assessments covering multiple aspects of the area.
This was followed by the development of a zoning draft by a Working Group (Pokja) led by the Head of the Provincial Marine and Fisheries Agency and consisting of provincial and district government agencies, sub-district heads, academics, and development partners.
The next phase involved public consultations at the district and community levels in Waipia and across Teon, Nila, and Serua Islands. These consultations engaged village authorities, community leaders, customary institutions, traditional landowners, youth representatives, and women leaders.
Input gathered throughout the consultation process was used to refine the documentation before it entered the ministry-level technical evaluation stage.
The proposed TNS Conservation Area covers approximately 683,826 hectares, aimed at protecting a range of critical marine ecosystems. The area is expected to serve as a tool for sustainable marine resource management while providing spatial certainty for various uses compatible with conservation objectives.
Head of the Maluku Provincial Marine and Fisheries Agency, Erawan Asikin, stated that the provincial government is committed to following up on all recommendations resulting from the evaluation to ensure the designation process proceeds in accordance with applicable regulations.
“The Government of Maluku Province continues to strengthen coordination with the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries and all partners to ensure that all documents meet technical and administrative requirements. The establishment of this conservation area will provide an important foundation for safeguarding Maluku’s marine resources for present and future generations,” he said.
During the evaluation, participants discussed improvements to the Draft Ministerial Decree, including harmonization of the conservation area nomenclature, refinement of boundaries and geographic coordinates, updates to area maps, zoning adjustments, and synchronization with Maluku Provincial Regulation No. 2 of 2025 on the Provincial Spatial Plan for 2025–2044.
The evaluation also ensured that the area’s conservation targets—including coral reef ecosystems, seagrass beds, fish spawning grounds, and habitats of scalloped hammerhead sharks—are adequately protected within the proposed zoning framework.
Technical evaluation is a critical step in ensuring that conservation areas are established on strong legal, scientific, and governance foundations.
“The designation of a conservation area is not merely about achieving spatial targets. It is about ensuring that the area has a solid management framework, clear legal standing, and the capacity to generate benefits for biodiversity conservation and coastal communities. This technical evaluation is an important part of refining all documents before final approval by the Minister of Marine Affairs and Fisheries,” he added.
YKAN Marine Program Director Muhammad Ilman emphasized that, as a development partner, YKAN supports government efforts to strengthen marine conservation areas as a key component of sustainable ocean management.
“Well-designed conservation areas are essential instruments for maintaining healthy marine ecosystems while supporting sustainable fisheries, cultural traditions, and the welfare of coastal communities. We therefore support the ongoing refinement of the documentation so that this area can be formally designated and effectively managed in collaboration with government institutions and other stakeholders,” said Muhammad Ilman.
Over the course of the two-day meeting, participants also prepared follow-up plans, schedules for document revisions, and official minutes to support the final designation process.
Once all technical recommendations have been addressed, the Draft Ministerial Decree will proceed through the established approval mechanism toward formal designation by the Minister of Marine Affairs and Fisheries.
The establishment of the Teon, Nila, and Serua Marine Conservation Area is expected to strengthen Maluku Province’s contribution to Indonesia’s national target for expanding marine protected areas, while safeguarding critical habitats, enhancing the resilience of coastal ecosystems, and supporting the sustainable use of marine resources for local communities.
