Indonesia's marine ecosystems form a fundamental part of the world's natural heritage, representing a global maxima of marine biodiversity and supporting the world's second largest production of seafood. Seagrasses are a key part of that support. In the absence of empirical data we present evidence from expert opinions as to the state of Indonesia's seagrass ecosystems, their support for ecosystem services, with a focus on fisheries, and the damaging activities that threaten their existence. We further draw on expert opinion to elicit potential solutions to prevent further loss. Seagrasses and the ecosystem services they support across the Indonesian archipelago are in a critical state of decline. Declining seagrass health is the result of shifting environmental conditions due largely to coastal development, land reclamation, and deforestation, as well as seaweed farming, overfishing and garbage dumping. In particular, we also describe the declining state of the fisheries resources that seagrass meadows support. The perilous state of Indonesia's seagrasses will compromise their resilience to climate change and result in a loss of their high ecosystem service value. Community supported management initiatives provide one mechanism for seagrass protection. Exemplars highlight the need for increased local level autonomy for the management of marine resources, opening up opportunities for incentive type conservation schemes.
Abstract. The Banggai cardinalfish Pterapogon kauderni is a species of national and international conservation concern. Established in November 2019, the Banggai marine protected area (MPA) in Central Sulawesi, Indonesia covers most of the endemic range of this ornamental fish. The third repeat survey (T2 monitoring) under the National Action Plan for Banggai Cardinalfish Conservation (NAP-BCFC) was carried out in October 2019 at eight sites in the Bokan Kepulauan region within the MPA. The T2 monitoring used the standard NAP-BCFC belt transect method. Data were collected on P. kauderni abundance (by size class: recruits, juveniles, adults) and microhabitat (sea urchins, sea anemones, hard corals, and others). Data were evaluated with respect to the T0 (2017) survey and T1 (2018) monitoring at the same sites, as well as previous surveys in 2004 (2 sites) and 2012 (4 sites). The data show wide between-site variation in P. kauderni and microhabitat parameters, with one subpopulation at very high risk of extirpation. Trends included declines over time in P. kauderni, sea urchin and sea anemone abundance, with an increase since 2017 in hard coral microhabitat use by adult P. kauderni. We recommend evaluation of other P. kauderni populations in Bokan Kepulauan and specific site or zone-based actions. However, we conclude that the most urgent priority for P. kauderni conservation in Bokan Kepulauan is protection of key microhabitat through a moratorium on sea urchin and sea anemone collection in P. kauderni habitat. Keywords: Banggai cardinalfish, endangered species, marine conservation, microhabitat, monitoring, ornamental fishery, CITES
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