Indonesia marine conservation expansion

Indonesia is advancing its marine conservation goals through several large-scale initiatives aimed at protecting its waters. As part of the “Visi 30x45” strategy, which seeks to protect 30 percent of the nation’s land and water by 2045, the government has proposed two massive Large-Scale Marine Protected Areas (LSMPAs) covering approximately 24 million hectares. These proposed areas include 11.3 million hectares in the Banda Sea and 12.9 million hectares off the west coast of Sumatra.

Furthering these efforts, the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries has designated 162,874 hectares in the Maksegara waters of Southwest Papua as a marine conservation area. This specific zone protects critical coral reefs and seagrass beds that serve as habitats for sea turtles and dugongs.

While these conservation efforts aim to ensure sustainable fishery resources and biodiversity, they face challenges. The expansion of the nickel mining industry creates tension between biodiversity goals and energy transition demands. Additionally, economic experts have noted that marine resource potential must be managed through mechanisms that ensure equitable economic benefits for fishermen and coastal residents.