Ecological Impacts of the Bird’s Head Seascape Marine Protected Areas, Summary Report 2017

The Bird’s Head Ecological Monitoring Program tracks changes in marine protected areas (MPAs) within the Bird’s Head Seascape (BHS). MPAs in the BHS incorporate spatial zonation, with some areas allowing fisheries (use zone), while other areas banning any extractive uses (no-take zone; NTZ). Over 100 individual locations within the MPAs (representing fishing and no-take zones) and the wider seascape were surveyed by the monitoring team every 2-3 years during the period 2010-2017. Here, we report on the trends and the impact of five MPAs from the BHS, using three key indicators: (i) percentage hard coral cover, (ii) fish functional group biomass, and (iii) key fisheries species biomass. Our results show improving or stable trends in hard coral cover in four of the five MPAs: Dampier MPA, Kawe MPA, Teluk Mayalibit MPA, and the Misool MPA use zone. It is encouraging that coral cover was maintained or increased in the majority of locations. Hard coral cover slightly declined in the Kofiau MPA and the Misool NTZ. In the context of the recent global mass coral bleaching event, however, the observed declines are small. Fish functional groups play a crucial role in maintaining reef health, particularly in removing algae from the reef. We found fish functional group biomass to be increasing or stable in four of the five MPAs: Dampier MPA, Kawe MPA, Kofiau MPA, Teluk Mayalibit MPA. Fish functional group biomass was also stable within the Misool NTZ, but declined in the fisheries use area within the Misool NTZ. This suggests that the majority of the MPAs show improving in condition. Key fisheries species are important commercial species for local consumption and export to national and international markets. Within the monitoring period we documented increasing or stable key fisheries species biomass in four of the five MPAs: Dampier MPA, Kawe MPA, Kofiau MPA, and Misool MPA. In Teluk Mayalibit MPA, we found stable key fisheries biomass in the NTZ, but declines in the fishing use zone. Our results suggest that the BHS MPAs are generally supporting key fisheries biomass recover. To improve the long-term impact of the BHS MPA network, we recommend seven management actions that should be applied going-forward where appropriate. Some actions require MPA specific implementation, while others are implemented at the province or seascape level: 1. Increase surveillance/patrolling/enforcement activities within the MPAs. 2. Increased mitigation for direct negative reef impacts associated with growing tourism activities. 3. Increased monitoring of fisheries supply chains for non-BHS markets. 4. Increased socialization of the MPA structure to community and tourism stakeholders. 5. Managing and mitigating reef damage from coastal infrastructure development. 6. Improved waste management. 7. Improving capacity of MPA managers and related partners.