Ecological Status of Dampier Strain MPA - 2016 Technical Report

Dampier Strait MPA is one of the largest MPAs in the Raja Ampat MPA network. In 2016, 14 sites were surveyed by a team from Conservation International (CI) and partners, including Raja Ampat UPTD, CoE UNIPA, and Satker BKKPN Kupang, from the 7th-8th and 15th-17th of March. The Dampier Strait MPA has been previously monitored in 2010 and 2014. In general, coral reef ecosystems are in healthy condition. Coral cover has remained relatively stable since monitoring began six years ago. Meanwhile, the biomass of key functional fish families and key fisheries families moderately increased over time. These conditions might have happened as an impact from the patrol systems carried out regularly by the Raja Ampat MPA Management Authority and its partners. In addition, Dampier Strait is known as one of the 'most crowded' tourism areas within Raja Ampat, which contributed to prevent the illegal fishing practices in the region.