What's happening in the epi-center of marine biodiversity? Status and trends of the reefs of the Bird's Head Seascape MPA Network

The Bird’s Head Seascape (BHS) in Papua has been identified as the highest marine conservation priority in Indonesia, due to its mega-biodiversity. A network of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) has been established to minimize... [ view full abstract ]

The Bird’s Head Seascape (BHS) in Papua has been identified as the highest marine conservation priority in Indonesia, due to its mega-biodiversity. A network of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) has been established to minimize local threats in the region, such as destructive fishing practices and over fishing. The reef health monitoring program was designed to evaluate the MPAs performance and inform management in the region. Coral cover and fish biomass are measured every two years at 226 sites inside and at 58 sites outside the total of 9 MPAs, before and after MPAs were established from 2010 to 2016. There was variation in and among different zones and MPAs within BHS. On average, there were no significant increases in key fisheries species biomass or herbivore biomass through time. Interestingly, in general, no take zones did not outperform multi-use zones. Does this mean that the MPAs are failing? The short answer is no; while there is some evidence of decline in fish biomass in BHS, levels of fish biomass are still on average much higher than in many other places in Indonesia and beyond. In addition, initial conditions at these MPAs were relatively high to begin with. However, continued development and increases in tourism in the region are encroaching on the balance between sustainable use of marine resources, and need to be considered in conservation management to continue to safeguard this region.