<
https://oceanographicmagazine.com/features/exploring-the-coral-triangle-raja-ampat/>
"The Coral Triangle is a marine area located in the western Pacific Ocean. It
spans six countries: Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines,
Solomon Islands, and Timor-Leste. Encompassing approximately 5.7 million square
kilometres of ocean (a mere 1.6% of the planet’s total), the Coral Triangle is
home to an astonishing 76% of the world's known coral species and over 3,000
species of fish - more than twice the number found anywhere else in the world.
The region’s rich biodiversity provides incalculable ecological value. The
reefs and mangroves act as nurseries for numerous marine species, playing a
crucial role in the oceanic food web. Moreover, the Coral Triangle’s ecosystems
offer invaluable biological and socio-economic services, from climate
regulation and storm protection to providing livelihoods and food security for
millions of people.
Raja Ampat, situated off the coast of West Papua in Indonesia, is known as the
‘Crown Jewel of the Coral Triangle’ and is one of the most biodiverse regions
on Earth. Internationally recognised for its unparalleled marine biodiversity,
Raja Ampat boasts over 1,800 species of fish and more than 550 species of
coral. A site known as Cape Kri holds the world record for the most fish
species counted on a single dive (a staggering 374 different species of fish
were documented).
Spanning 70,000 square kilometres with over 1,500 islands and reefs supporting
around 775,000 people, this region has not been immune to environmental
challenges, from poaching to illegal and unregulated fishing, all of which
threaten both its natural environment and dependent communities.
To protect this rich biodiversity, a number of measures have been implemented.
For example, in 2007, the Indonesian Government declared a network of seven
Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) to ensure the long-term health of the marine
ecosystems. These include the Southeast Misool MPA (346,000 hectares), the
Dampier Strait MPA (357,000 hectares), and the West Waigeo MPA (271,000
hectares), as well as Mayalibit Bay (a 5,561-hectare reserve established by
Rare). The Regency Government of Raja Ampat also declared its commitment to
protecting sharks and manta rays by officially declaring a 46,000 square
kilometre shark and manta ray sanctuary.
Further, the Bird’s Head Seascape Initiative was created in 2004 by a strong
union of international NGOs and local, regional, provincial and national
governments, coastal communities, local organisations, and universities to help
protect the area. The partnership helps protect the seascape while enabling
Indigenous communities to protect their traditions and economic security. To
date, the Initiative consists of 22.5 million hectares protected by a network
of 26 MPAs and is strongly supported by the communities that surround and live
within them.
Last but not least, tourism is constantly monitored by the Raja Ampat MPA
Management Authority. The organisation is working to better monitor tourism in
the region and eventually establish capacity controls."
Via
Fix the News:
<
https://fixthenews.com/good-news-child-deaths-clean-cooking-conservation-southern-ocean/>
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
