Development of conservation and management Plan for the Banggai cardinal fish through empowerment of fishermen’s groups in the sustainable harvest of marine organisms in the Banggai Islands Archipelago.

Period of 2009 - 2011

Overview

The Banggai communities are dependent on the fishing and local sale of marine products, including food fish, octopus, squid, grouper, sea cucumbers, and live fish for the international marine aquarium fish trade. Of these, one significant trade species is the Banggai cardinal fish (Pterapogon kauderni). This endemic species was once abundant throughout the Banggai archipelago. The habitats of this endemic species are shrinking due to habitat destruction, and the population has been steadily depleted due to over-exploitation. To ensure the health of the reefs and the maintenance of this endemic species and other reef fish populations, the people of Banggai need to develop and implement a marine conservation and sustainable fisheries program.
LINI and its partners have conducted surveys to develop distribution maps of the Banggai cardinal fish, and plan to monitor the populations of this species in the area. We are certain that, given the support it so badly needs, community-based coral reef conservation can create a more sustainable reef fisheries, and also serve as a model that can be replicated elsewhere, especially in Indonesia and other countries where the supportive framework of coastal resource management is still weak or non-existent.
The objective of the project is to establish a sustainable marine resource fisheries and coral reef conservation program to support the livelihoods of the Banggai people. Furthermore the project aims to increase capacity of the local community groups to develop a reef conservation program for the Banggai area, in order to protect the resources, to prevent further reef damage and loss of reef fisheries populations, and to develop and implement a management plan to enhance reef fisheries populations for sustained long-term exploitation.

This project receives support from Yayasan KEHATI

The development of a conservation education and awareness program for local fisheries school in the Banggai Islands

Period  Mei 2010 – Oktober 2011

Starting in early 2009, LINI implemented a community-based coral reef conservation initiative in the Banggai Archipelago. The reefs in this area are home to the Banggai Cardinal Fish (Pterapogon kauderni), which is an endemic species, only found in this archipelago. It is the first marine aquarium fish to have become an international CITES issue, because of concern that over-collection is leading to its extinction. At a time when  traders, end buyers and others in the developed world are becoming aware of the conservation issues surrounding this species, the people in the Banggai archipelago still know little about a species which is unique to their area, and is an important source of local income. Furthermore, those few people who are keen to instigate positive changes and work towards better marine resource sustainability in the Banggai area, suffer lack the skills and funding necessary to implement credible protection of this species and its marine habitats.

Objectives:

1. Increase the capacity of the local community groups to develop a reef conservation program for the Banggai area, in order to protect the reefs, prevent further reef damage and loss of reef fisheries populations, and to develop and implement a management plan to enhance reef fisheries populations for sustained long-term exploitation.
2. Eliminate destructive fishing in the area by raising awareness of the need to protect the marine resources from damage.
3. Conduct a series of teachers’ workshops to develop awareness and education materials for teachers
4. Develop a conservation and education program for the local fisheries schools
5. Conduct awareness activities for coastal communities including fishermen’s groups, young people and local government.
6. Develop campaign and awareness materials for the use of school teachers and local communities (i.e. posters, comic books, factsheets, flip charts).

Support for this project is being given by the PADI Foundation