The Government of Indonesia has committed to protect its marine ecosystems, pledging to establish 32.5 million hectares of marine protected areas (MPAs) by 2030. This commitment supports the 30×30 target of the Global Biodiversity Framework, which aims to protect 30% of the world’s marine areas by 2030. To date, the country has made significant efforts by establishing 29.28 million hectares of MPA (Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries, 2024). These MPAs serve as sanctuaries focused on conserving marine biodiversity such as coral reefs, sea grass, and mangroves.
Among MPAs in Indonesia, the Way Kambas MPA in Lampung Province stands as an exception where its conservation target focuses on protecting blue swimming crab juveniles and its sandy-mud habitats. This MPA was established to support the blue swimming crab fisheries management in Lampung Fisheries Management Area (FMA), making it the first MPA in Indonesia to serve as a fisheries sanctuary.
The blue swimming crab fisheries management plan targets two goals: (1) protecting the species and its ecosystem and (2) increasing the socio-economic benefits for fishers and other stakeholders in the fishing industry. To achieve these goals, the stakeholders assessed several potential strategies based on impact and feasibility and agreed on two management strategies: protecting the blue swimming crab area and banning the use of destructive fishing gears.
The establishment of Way Kambas MPA began with a desktop study of the blue swimming crab condition in the East Lampung’s coastal area. In 2019, the Lampung Fisheries Agency (DKP) identified Way Kambas as the potential conservation area and recommended it to be designated as an MPA. To strengthen their recommendation, the DKP partnered with EDF to collect data on blue swimming crab in 2019. The findings indicated that the waters surrounding Way Kambas MPA serves as a critical habitat of blue swimming crab juvenile.
The period from 2020 to 2022 was a crucial phase in the establishment of the Way Kambas MPA. During this time, the blue swimming crab co-management team dedicated significant effort in designing the area, defining its boundaries, and developing zoning and its regulations. Their work also included engaging directly with local fishing communities, organizing awareness programs, and conducting public consultations to explain the critical role of an MPA in preserving marine biodiversity. Recognizing the need to protect the juvenile crab habitat from destructive fishing practices and keeping their traditional fishing grounds, the local communities ultimately supported the establishment of the Way Kambas MPA.
After years of intensive efforts, on Jan. 3, 2023, the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries officially designated the Way Kambas MPA in Lampung as a fisheries sanctuary, covering an area of 60,420 hectares. To ensure the effective management of this protected area, a comprehensive management plan was developed and approved by the MMAF on Nov. 12, 2024. This plan will serve as a guiding document for MPA managers and stakeholders, outlining the strategies and actions to be taken over the next 25 years to manage the Way Kambas MPA.
Despite its establishment, Way Kambas MPA’s management remains a work in progress. Its success will heavily rely on the effectiveness of its management, which is evaluated using the Technical Guidelines for Evaluating the Effectiveness of Conservation Area Management (Evika), the national MPA assessment. This assessment evaluates the MPA using a percentage of 24 indicators achieved.
The Evika uses 3 scoring categories: (1) minimally managed (<50% of total indicators), (2) optimally managed (>50-85%), and (3) sustainably managed (>85%). According to the 2024 EVIKA, the initial evaluation of Way Kambas MPA revealed a score of 49.06%, indicating a “minimally managed” status. The goal now is to reach “optimally managed” status in the near future through ongoing collaboration with the government and stakeholders.
The designation of the Way Kambas MPA is a crucial first step, but it is only the beginning of a long journey. Effectively integrating conservation area and fisheries management in a way that benefits local communities remains a current challenge. This was also expressed by the fishing communities who hope that the Way Kambas MPA will provide long-term economic benefits to them and preserving their fishing areas. If we can successfully integrate the MPA with the management of blue swimming crab fishery management area (FMA), we would not only address the communities’ aspirations but also pave the way for a healthier marine ecosystem for years to come.