Indonesia establishes TNS Islands marine conservation zone in Maluku

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3 hours ago

Jakarta (ANTARA) – The Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) designated waters surrounding the Teon, Nila, and Serua (TNS) Islands in Maluku Tengah District as a 683,826-hectare conservation area.

Koswara, the ministry’s Director General of Marine Spatial Management, noted that the designation expands protection for marine ecosystems while strengthening conservation area governance.

“The designation of this conservation area reinforces Indonesia’s contribution toward achieving the target of protecting 30 percent of its marine territory by 2045,” he remarked in a statement on Monday.

The establishment of the TNS Conservation Area is stipulated in Decree of the Minister of Marine Affairs and Fisheries No. 67/2026, issued on Sept. 2, 2026.

Koswara explained that the conservation zone contains vital ecosystems, including coral reefs and seagrass beds, and serves as a fish spawning ground and hammerhead shark habitat.

Protection in the area also holds potential to support sustainable fisheries and marine tourism, providing economic benefits to local communities while preserving ecological functions, he added.

Firdaus Agung, the ministry’s Director of Ecosystem Conservation, said management of the TNS Conservation Area will be executed by local authorities through a Regional Technical Implementation Unit (UPTD), involving communities and development partners.

Meanwhile, Erawan Asikin, head of the Maluku Marine Affairs and Fisheries Agency, stated that establishing the conservation zone involved biophysical, socio-economic, and cultural surveys alongside public consultations.

He noted that public participation was encouraged by engaging the Latupati Council of Maluku customary rulers, customary landowners, community leaders, youth and women’s groups, and coastal fishermen.