Protecting Indonesia's Fisheries and Biodiversity

Indonesia’s marine biodiversity and complex fisheries are threatened by climate change impacts, unsustainable management and illegal, unregulated, and unreported (IUU) fishing. Together, these factors are hindering the country from fully realizing long-term socio-economic benefits from its oceans. To protect biodiversity and sustain productive, profitable fisheries, the United States and Indonesia partner to promote healthier marine ecosystems.

The long-term viability of Indonesian fisheries depends on the country’s exceptional marine biodiversity. Located in the Coral Triangle, Indonesia is the global epicenter of marine biodiversity. The country is home to 76 percent of the world's coral species and 37 percent of the world's coral reef fish species, as well as interconnected habitats of coral reefs, mangroves, and seagrasses that are among the most important and productive ecosystems in the world. With more than 2.2 million fishers and 12 million people participating in the fisheries sector, the sustainability of Indonesia’s fisheries is vitally important for livelihoods, food security, ecosystem services, and biodiversity conservation.

USAID Indonesia's Marine and Fisheries Portfolio

The portfolio advances Indonesia's work to protect marine biodiversity by improving sustainable and equitable management of fisheries and marine protected areas (MPAs). The portfolio focuses on three main objectives:

• Improved evidence-based sustainable fisheries policies and their implementation for priority areas and fisheries;
• Improved management effectiveness of existing national and provincial MPAs and compliance with regulations; and
• Improved protection of endangered, threatened, and protected marine species and their habitats.

Geographic Locations

The portfolio prioritizes work in two fisheries management areas (WPPNRI) selected based on an analysis of biodiversity richness and fisheries-dependent livelihoods with input from MMAF and other stakeholders:

1. WPPNRI 711, with Riau Islands and West Kalimantan as focus provinces; and 
2. WPPNRI 715, involving all provinces governed by this WPPNRI: North Sulawesi, Gorontalo, Central Sulawesi, North Maluku, Maluku, and West Papua.

Anticipated Results

• Key drivers and direct pressures to biodiversity in the target areas reduced, including IUU fishing and unsustainable management;
• Management effectiveness of existing national and provincial MPAs in target areas improved to optimal and/or sustainably managed levels;
• At least five million hectares of biologically significant areas of priority fisheries under improved sustainable fisheries resource management and climate change resilience;
• At least five target fisheries are sustainably managed through management strategies, such as fisheries management plan, harvest strategy, and fisheries improvement program; and
• More than 5,000 people with increased economic benefits from the improved management of priority fisheries and MPAs.

Contact

Celly Catharina, USAID Marine and Fisheries Sector Lead Senior Marine Program Specialist at ccatharina@usaid.gov
Ahmad Hafizh Adyas, USAID Marine Program Specialist at aadyas@usaid.gov