Jakarta (VNA) - The Indonesian Government has officially designated 325,238.02 hectares of the West Wetar waters in Maluku as a Marine Protected Area (MPA).
This area forms part of a vast ecosystem and serves as an important migratory corridor for many large marine species.
The move aims to safeguard high-value biodiversity while ensuring the long-term sustainability of local coastal livelihoods.
The West Wetar Marine Park comprises a core zone of 2,726.42 hectares, a limited-use zone of 322,408.07 hectares, and other functional zones totaling 103.53 hectares. This spatial zoning serves as the foundation for measurable conservation management based on ecosystem protection.
Firdaus Agung, Director of Ecosystem Conservation at the Marine Affairs and Fisheries Ministry, conveyed that the designation is part of a national commitment to protecting critical marine ecosystems in Eastern Indonesia.
The Marine Rapid Assessment identified two important fish spawning locations: in Ustutun Village, Lirang Island, as a spawning area for imperator fish (Monotaxis grandoculis) and in Telemar Village as a spawning area for a species of snapper (Macolor macularis). Furthermore, the area also contains an atoll with excellent coral reef cover./.
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