Yaf Keru Impacts

Scientific monitoring of the environmental, economic and social impacts of restoring coral reefs destroyed by destructive fishing methods.

The YAF Keru impacts project

CONTEXT AND MAIN ISSUES

The Raja Ampat archipelago in Indonesia is considered one of the richest habitats for marine biodiversity on the planet. Exceptional in many respects, these coral reefs are relatively unaffected by the bleaching that is affecting the majority of tropical reefs. Yet they are threatened by the region’s rapid economic development, and the short-termist exploitation of its resources. The ban on dynamite fishing was a major first step in preserving coral reefs, but the ecosystem needs human support to help it recover. Scientific monitoring of the impacts of coral restoration will help to better understand and manage the recovery of this ecosystem, on which the future of local communities depends.

Reef conservation now requires a multidisciplinary approach, taking into account ecological, economic and socio-cultural factors.

GOALS

Scientific monitoring of the environmental, economic and social impacts of Raja Ampat’s coral reef restoration on a large scale.

METHOD

Yaf Keru-Impacts aims to establish continuous scientific monitoring of the ecological status of the reefs of an innovative, large-scale, community-based ecosystem management/restoration model. In this PhD work supported by Pure Ocean, these experiments will be supported by monitoring the abundance and diversity of fish stocks on restored reefs, collaborations with local fishermen, and community surveys to provide arguments in support of more sustainable resource management.

Yaf Keru – Impacts thus aims to characterize species recolonization, work with fishermen and study socio-economic dynamics in the service of coral reef health and food security for local populations.

HOW IS THIS PROJECT INNOVATIVE?

The Yaf Keru Impacts project is innovative in its comprehensive approach, combining ecological monitoring, collaboration with fishermen and socio-economic surveys.
Its large-scale community management model is innovative, as is its method for characterizing species recolonization.
Moreover, as coral reefs are home to 1/4 of marine biodiversity, their restoration is a major challenge for the preservation of biodiversity and the food security of local populations.
The project’s commitment to sustainable resource management with local communities is therefore a key element of its innovation.