The Sustainable Oceans program at LINI Foundation is a dedicated effort to conserve and protect Indonesia’s marine ecosystems. This program encompasses various initiatives, including Fisheries Improvement Project (FIP), the LINI Aquaculture and Training Center (LATC), Locally-Managed Marine Area (LMMA), the Conservation of Endemic Species, Community-based Reef Restoration, Marine Aquarium Project Indonesia (MAPI).
Compared to freshwater ornamental fish, there are very few types of marine aquarium fish that have so far been cultivated successfully on a commercial scale in Indonesia.
In December 2014, LINI embarked on a transformative initiative with crucial support from the Sianawati family, owners of CV Blue Star Aquatic, and the Australian Consulate General in Bali. This venture marked the inception of the LINI Aquaculture and Training Center (LATC) in Les Village, North Bali, a region where LINI had already been working closely with coastal aquarium fishers since 2008.
The LATC represents a collaborative effort, with active involvement from local residents in Les Village, educational institutions, governmental bodies, and private sector stakeholders. Together, these partnerships aim to secure long-term economic stability for the community.
This pioneering center directly addresses the urgent need to mitigate the destruction of Indonesia’s globally significant coral reefs while creating compelling incentives for reef management and conservation. These efforts are designed to directly benefit coastal communities reliant on coral reef resources.
The LATC stands as a hub for training and hands-on experience, offering valuable insights into marine conservation, reef restoration, aquaculture, and sustainable fishery management. The center’s focus extends to industry professionals, fishers, government personnel, and university students, providing them with practical skills and knowledge pertaining to the breeding and husbandry of reef fish. It embodies LINI’s commitment to fostering a sustainable future for Indonesia’s marine ecosystems and the communities that depend on them.
LINI has been actively engaged in fisheries improvement projects (FIPs) across multiple regions, focusing on both the Banda Islands and Sulawesi. In the picturesque Banda Islands, situated in the Banda Sea and part of Indonesia’s Maluku Province, LINI has been instrumental in supporting the development of the Banda Handline Yellowfin Tuna Fishery Improvement Project. Collaborating with PT. Intimas Surya and the Sustainable Fisheries Partnership, this FIP seeks to enhance the sustainability of artisanal Yellowfin tuna fisheries, a crucial source of livelihood for coastal communities in the Banda Islands. LINI’s efforts have led to improvements in catch data accuracy, safety at sea, monitoring of fishing practices’ impact on endangered species, and an increase in small-scale boat registrations. Notably, the Handline Yellowfin Tuna Banda Sea, a part of the Association of Pole and Line and Handline Indonesia (AP2HI), achieved MSC full assessment in 2020, and in early 2021, it received certification as a well-managed and sustainable fishery.
In parallel, LINI has been actively involved in a community-based Octopus Fishery project since 2017 in Banggai Laut Regency, Central Sulawesi. This initiative aims to assess the fishery’s impact on reef ecosystems, address data deficiencies, and build local stakeholder capacity to develop a sustainable small-scale Octopus fishery management program. Activities include comprehensive catch data collection and temporary fishing ground closures, driven by data-driven decision-making. LINI has also extended its reach to Selayar Island in South Sulawesi, facilitating the development of octopus catch data monitoring to support the creation of octopus fishery management plans at regional and provincial levels.
Both the Banggai and Selayar projects are integral components of the Fisheries Improvement Project of Octopus Sulawesi, a collaborative effort with other NGOs dedicated to assisting small-scale octopus fishers in Sulawesi. This FIP, launched in February 2023, aims to strengthen the sustainability of octopus fisheries in the region through data-driven and community-based approaches, ultimately contributing to the sustainable livelihoods of local fishers and the preservation of octopus populations.
The Locally Managed Marine Area (LMMA) program, initially launched in Banggai Laut, Central Sulawesi, involves six villages: Bonebaru, Tolisetubono, Paisumosoni, Popisi, Lokotoy, and Kendek, united in their mission to promote sustainable coastal and marine resource management. This initiative emerged as a response to the need for harmonizing community efforts with existing regulations, particularly in areas designated as Conservation Zones according to regional laws. To address this challenge, the LINI Foundation extended its support to encompass all six villages within the district.
The implementation process encompasses several critical steps, including introducing LMMA concepts, customizing these concepts to fit local governance structures at the village and sub-district levels. This involves participatory mapping, integrating LMMA models into village programs, and establishing specific regulations. Continuous monitoring and evaluation are key components to assess the program’s effectiveness. Additionally, community awareness is raised through conservation efforts, including temporary closures and community-based reef restoration initiatives.
The technical development stages for village-scale LMMA are comprehensive, involving stakeholder engagement, model selection, the formulation of village-level regulations, resource management driven by community participation, and the ongoing monitoring and evaluation of established programs. This holistic approach aims to empower local communities, bolster their capacity for resource management, and ensure the sustainability of practices for generations to come.
The LINI Foundation is committed to expanding this successful approach to new areas, including the Banggai Kepulauan District in Central Sulawesi and South Sulawesi’s Selayar Kahu-Kahu village and Mekar Indah village. This expansion reflects LINI’s dedication to fostering community-driven marine resource management and conservation efforts.
The Banggai Cardinalfish (Pterapogon kauderni) is a species of reef fish endemic to the Banggai Archipelago in Central Sulawesi, Indonesia, and has a very limited geographical range. The Banggai Archipelago consists of 123 islands with a total area of 22,042.56 km2 and 18,828.10 km2 of marine areas. The species is a popular marine aquarium fish that has been exploited for overseas markets since the mid-1990s. The overharvest of this species for the aquarium trade has led to concerns that it will become extinct. The species is listed by IUCN as endangered and is the first marine aquarium fish to have become an international CITES issue, because of concerns that over-collection is leading to its extinction. Some captive breeding of this species has occurred, but wild stocks are still threatened.
Since 2010, LINI has worked with local communities and local Government in Banggai to support the conservation of this species through education and awareness, and the protection of wild Banggai Cardinalfishpopulations and habitats in the Banggai Archipelago.
LINI’s Community-based Reef Restoration Program in Bali is a proactive response to the depletion of coral reefs, which has been exacerbated by historical coral use, harmful fishing methods, and environmental pollution. Bali, with its unique location and diverse marine life, has suffered from reef degradation, particularly along its North, East, and Southern coasts. Since 2010, LINI has partnered with local communities to initiate reef restoration efforts, initially in Les village and Penuktukan village in North Bali. The primary goal of this program is to rejuvenate fish habitats and populations, offering alternative fishing sites to alleviate the exploitation on natural reefs. The initiative engages a range of stakeholders, including fishermen, coral farmers, exporters, and tourism operators, all benefiting from the restoration of thriving reefs.
A pivotal component of the program is the establishment of the Coral Stock Centre (CSC) in Les village, utilizing artificial reef structures to cultivate resilient coral species. These species are selected based on their ability to withstand temperature fluctuations, which have negatively impacted the reefs in Les in recent years. The CSC’s purpose is to create areas where coral stocks can be propagated into fragments for reef rehabilitation projects elsewhere in Indonesia. The development of the CSC involves collaboration with community groups from various villages along Bali’s North coast, previously part of the Indonesia Coral Reef Garden (ICRG), a government-funded project responding to the economic challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Recognizing the critical link between Indonesia’s reef health and the livelihoods of coastal communities, LINI replicates its successful reef restoration model in other regions. This expansion includes the Banggai Islands, Selayar Islands and Banda Naira, with a focus on improving habitats for endangered species like the Banggai cardinalfish and reef octopus.
The Marine Aquarium Project Indonesia (MAPI) is a pioneering online platform dedicated to transforming and advancing the marine aquarium fishery in Indonesia. Its primary mission is twofold: to enhance accessibility within the industry and to provide a platform for industry players to showcase their commitment to legal and responsible fishing practices. MAPI serves as an extensive repository of critical information, encompassing details about marine species traded from Indonesia, the status and management of these traded species, and comprehensive information about participants within the supply chain.
By becoming a part of MAPI, companies gain a unique opportunity to engage actively in the conservation of the marine environment while supporting small-scale fishers. They also unlock the potential for greater market access, connecting with like-minded companies dedicated to fostering a more responsible and sustainable fishery. Furthermore, industry players play a crucial role by contributing essential data and information that empowers more effective fishery evaluation and management, ultimately promoting transparency and accountability.
MAPI is a collaborative effort that unites fishers, suppliers, and exporters along the entire supply chain. Its core objective is to promote responsible and sustainable practices within the marine aquarium industry, combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, and address various unsustainable practices. To achieve these goals, MAPI has established specific criteria and indicators to guide industry stakeholders in adopting responsible practices, ensuring compliance with regulations, promoting transparency, and actively supporting the welfare of fishers. This innovative initiative represents a significant stride toward advancing the sustainability of the marine aquarium industry, where industry players unite to conserve marine ecosystems, promote legal and ethical practices, and uplift the livelihoods of coastal communities.