In Raja Ampat, Indonesia, marine life has made a remarkable recovery, thanks to the establishment of large marine protected areas. However, not all species have bounced back. It’s estimated that only 20 adult Indo-Pacific leopard sharks remain, severely impacted by overfishing. Can this species be saved? And why is that important?
When world-renowned ecologist and coral reef researcher Mark Erdman first arrived in Raja Ampat, Indonesia, in the early 2000s, both dynamite and shark fin fishing were still going on. He describes it as if all the major valuable fish species had been fished out. But today, when we meet him in Raja Ampat, we find a completely different reef, full of sharks and small fish.
They have just arrived in what they believe and hope is paradise. Raja Ampat is located in the centre of what is known as the ‘coral triangle’, which stretches from the Philippines down to Malaysia, Indonesia and over to East Timor.
The US is cancelling $35 million in debt to Indonesia in exchange for restoring and preserving coral reefs in an area that scientists say is the most biodiverse marine area in the world.
