Located in the heart of the Coral Triangle, the Raja Ampat Marine Protected Area Network spans over 4 million hectares and includes around 1,500 islands.
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"About 20 years ago, Raja Ampat was in decline because of unregulated commercial fishing and unsustainable practices," Meizani Irmadhiany, senior vice president and executive chair of"A lot needed to happen in partnership with various stakeholders to turn this around.", a project created to devise a network of Marine Protected Areas with the support of international conservators and local authorities.
Their efforts are paying off. Earlier this year, the Raja Ampat Marine Parks Network -- which includes 10 protected areas spanning more than two million hectares -- was issued theOrganized by Marine Conservation International and endorsed by the United Nations, the annual award recognizes marine parks around the world for meeting the highest science-based standards for conservation effectiveness.The Misool Eco Resort is in a "no-take zone.
"Since 2007, fish biomass has increased by an average of 250% and shark populations have rebounded. A healthy, vibrant ecosystem is wonderful for tourists to experience, but also essential for local people who depend on the reefs' abundance for their livelihoods," says Miners. "This holistic approach will give the best chance of success. It takes a whole lot of spirit and energy, which is found here in Raja Ampat," says Miners.Ammer has also observed positive changes at his two Papua Diving resorts.dived at Cape Kri, Papua Diving's house reef, he counted a record-breaking 327 fish species on one single dive. A decade later, the number went up to 374 distinct species in 90 minutes.
They have designed catamarans that are more fuel efficient, built by local people. A new catamaran currently in development will be fully electrical and autonomous when it hits the water.
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