Government, academics, Indigenous communities, and development partners agree to strengthen institutions, leatherback turtles protection, and integrated area monitoring and management.

Management of Jeen Womom Coastal Park (TP Jeen Womom) in Tambrauw Regency, Southwest Papua, is entering a new phase. Following a series of studies, consultations, and facilitation activities, stakeholders have agreed to use the findings of the Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries Management (EAFM) assessment as a shared foundation for strengthening area governance. The effort also aims to ensure that conservation goes hand in hand with the sustainability of local livelihoods.

This commitment emerged at the Workshop on Disseminating EAFM Assessment Findings to Support Sustainable Coastal Area Management in Jeen Womom Coastal Park, which marked the final stage of a collaboration involving the Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Science at the University of Papua (FPIK UNIPA), the Southwest Papua Provincial Marine and Fisheries Office (DKP), and WWF Indonesia. The activity was supported by the GEF-6 CFI Indonesia Programme and brought together provincial and regency governments, academics, Indigenous communities, development partners, and other stakeholders.

Head of the Southwest Papua Provincial DKP, Dr. Absalom Solossa, S.Pi., M.M., emphasized that the management of TP Jeen Womom requires both robust data and sustained collaboration.

Head of the Southwest Papua Provincial DKP, Dr. Absalom Solossa, S.Pi., M.M., delivers remarks at the Dissemination Workshop on the EAFM Baseline Assessment in Jeen Womom Coastal Park. The workshop served as a forum to strengthen stakeholder collaboration in support of sustainable, ecosystem-based management of coastal areas and fishery resources.

“Jeen Womom Coastal Park is strategically important, not only as a vital area for leatherback turtles, but also as a living space for Indigenous communities. Through EAFM, we aim to ensure that coastal fisheries management integrates ecological, social, economic, and institutional considerations. Synergy among government, academics, development partners, and Indigenous communities is key to the long-term sustainability of this area,” he said.

EAFM Provides Insights into Fisheries Conditions

The EAFM assessment conducted in Syukwo, Resye, and Womom villages found that the performance of community fisheries was rated moderate. Nevertheless, the assessment identified important strengths that can be built upon, particularly local knowledge and fishing practices that are relatively environmentally friendly.

The assessment also identified several challenges. Institutional arrangements and access to fisheries business legal documentation require further attention, including vessel permits and crew certification. These findings highlight the need for more proactive government services through facilitation and direct outreach to communities.

Meanwhile, the apparent decline in the average size of fish caught is a warning sign that warrants attention. This finding reinforces the need for regular resource monitoring and strategies to adapt to climate change.

The Dissemination Workshop on the EAFM Baseline Assessment in Jeen Womom Coastal Park brought together FPIK UNIPA, the Southwest Papua Provincial DKP, the GEF-6 CFI Indonesia Project Management Unit (PMU), WWF Indonesia, and Indigenous communities from Syukwo, Resye, and Womom villages to strengthen sustainable coastal area management.

Vice Dean I of FPIK UNIPA, Dr. Ir. Emmanuel Manangkalangi, S.Pi., M.Si., said the EAFM assessment provides a scientific basis for management policies, ensuring that decisions are informed not only by assumptions but also by actual conditions on the ground.

“Conservation and fisheries are not conflicting interests. Conservation does not mean halting all resource use, but ensuring that resource use remains within the carrying capacity of the ecosystem. With this EAFM baseline, we have a foundation for developing realistic recommendations so that fish remain available, ecosystems are maintained, and communities continue to prosper,” he said.

Indigenous Communities as Part of Area Management

For Indigenous communities around TP Jeen Womom, coastal areaa are not merely spaces for production, they are also integral to their social, cultural, and economic life. Accordingly, the workshop outcomes positioned Indigenous communities from Resye, Womom, Syukwo, Wau, and Weyaf as key partners in area management. Their involvement includes strengthening community-based surveillance groups and participating in resource monitoring and protection.

The Site Manager for Fisheries Management Area (WPPNRI) 717 under the GEF-6 CFI Indonesia Programme noted that the key to managing Jeen Womom lies in bringing scientific knowledge together with local practices.

“This forum is not simply about presenting assessment findings. It also provides a space to align programmes and ensure that EAFM recommendations are translated into concrete action. Traditional community practices that are consistent with sustainability principles should be incorporated into area governance,” the Site Manager said.

These commitments were subsequently formalized in a Record of Agreement. One of the priorities is to strengthen the leadership of the Southwest Papua Provincial DKP in managing TP Jeen Womom through its Regional Technical Implementation Unit (UPTD). This includes accelerating the establishment and staffing of the management unit and reactivating its office in Sausapor.

The stakeholders also agreed to develop a management plan that integrates terrestrial and coastal areas while aligning programmes implemented by government, communities, universities, and development partners.

Leatherback Turtles, Waste, and the Future of the Area

The joint commitment extends beyond institutional arrangements. Leatherback turtle protection is another key priority. Stakeholders support the organization of the Leatherback Turtle Festival in July 2027, while also advocating for the establishment of Leatherback Turtle Day as a platform for environmental education and conservation awareness.

Participants of the Dissemination of the EAFM Baseline Assessment in Jeen Womom Coastal Park pose for a group photograph while holding the Record of Agreement, symbolizing their shared commitment to sustainable coastal area management.

Surveillance on land and at sea will also be strengthened to reduce the exploitation and consumption of turtles. At the same time, stakeholders are prioritizing plastic waste management and the prevention of pollution associated with mining, marine transportation, and waste disposal around turtle nesting beaches.

Community livelihoods also remain a priority. Stakeholders are promoting livelihood development for communities around turtle nesting areas so that conservation efforts can go hand in hand with improved well-being.

Going forward, coordination among development partners will be strengthened through reporting on planned and completed activities to subnational governments, as well as regular annual meetings. These mechanisms are expected to improve coordination among interventions and contribute meaningfully to strengthening the Effectiveness of Conservation Area Management (EVIKA) at TP Jeen Womom.

Therefore, the EAFM assessment will not remain merely a scientific document. It serves as a starting point for building more integrated governance of Jeen Womom—bringing together science, local and Indigenous knowledge, government institutions, and stakeholder collaboration—to safeguard coastal ecosystems while ensuring that local communities remain at the heart of the area’s future.