As part of Borneo Island, Sintang is blessed with its primary rainforest and vast biodiversity. The fertile soil of this beautiful island has become a livelihood staple for the Sintang people, however, it is under a great threat. Agricultural deforestation has created imbalance within the ecosystem, and must be addressed with an ecological and economic sustainability approach.

The fellows in our Marine Fellowship Program, now in their third year, continue to make a huge impact on local marine policy and national fishery policy across Indonesia. The ongoing fellowship is a partnership between Yayasan Strategi Konservasi Indonesia (YSKI, or CSF Indonesia) and Fakultas Perikanan dan Ilmu Kelautan (FPIK IPB) University, and we recently held a two-day workshop for our Marine Fellowship Program 3 fellows to create a space to share their research accomplishments and plans with their peers. 

The development of the Sustainable Sintang Initiative has reached a new milestone. Throughout 2021 Yayasan Strategi Konservasi Indonesia (YSKI) together with the Sustainable District Association (LTKL), and the Sintang One-Stop Integrated Services and Investment Agency (DPMPTSP) have worked together on the Sintang General Investment Plan through a series of writing workshops and FGDs involving the stakeholders. 

Sustainable fishing practices are a growing global concern, the impacts of which affect all marine life across the globe and fishing industries. As an archipelago, Indonesia has an incredible potential to be a leader in sustainable fishing practices, with enough marine life to provide the country with an abundance of seafood, however, though blessed with the coral triangle and its marine biodiversity, Indonesia fishery practices are still far from sustainable. 

The Kei Islands is a small archipelago region located in the southeastern part of Maluku province Indonesia that consists of several islands, including Kei Besar, Kei Kecil, Tanimbar Kei, Dullah Islands, Kuur, Taam, and Tayandu islands. This region is also part of the Coral Triangle (CT), an area with a high biodiversity level that needs to be managed by Marine Protected Area (MPA) where human activities are limited in order to preserve the ecosystems.

The training participants in the FGD session. Photo credit: Hasan Adha Fauzi                         

The Focus Group Discussion’s participants. Photo credit: Hasan Adha Fauzi 

As part of Conservation Strategy Fund Indonesia’s ongoing collaboration with The Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (MMAF), CSF Indonesia held a National Seminar and Policy Dialogue on research and policy in fisheries socio-economics.

A part of the recently established Gorontalo Province, North Gorontalo Regency lies within the Tomini Gulf and Sulawesi Sea of Fisheries Management Area (FMA) 716 in Indonesia. As a lecturer at Gorontalo University, Nurul Auliyah wanted to learn more about the local marine management of FMA 716, in particular, the management of the local skipjack population (Katsuwonus Pelamis).

Located in the Sulawesi Waters and North Halmahera of Indonesia, Fisheries Management Area 716 (FMA 716) is one of the most thriving fisheries in Indonesia, known especially for its contingency of small pelagic fish, which live in the pelagic zone of the ocean ranging from the surface of the ocean to the near bottom. As one of the FMAs in the Indonesian archipelago, FMA 716 plays an important role in the development of Indonesia’s marine and fisheries sector. Out of 118 pelagic species found within the area, FMA 716 contains 25 species, offering a rich potential for fishing in the area.