MARINE PROTECTED AREAS AT WORK - RAJA AMPAT ARCHIPELAGO

I wanted to take a bit of time off of plastics this week and talk about something that is a bit more positive in the oceans and marine wildlife space. Specifically, I wanted to discuss a key solution that has shown incredible potential for ocean conservation - Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). For those not familiar with the term, MPAs are areas of the ocean where a government has put a limit on the types of human activity that can occur. Experts believe that MPAs are key to conserving our oceans and ensuring that wildlife and ecosystems can thrive, effectively combatting issues such as overfishing and loss of marine ecosystems – which are two key environmental challenges that are addressed in Dolphin Dude the movie.

The Raja Ampat archipelago, part of the Coral Triangle in Indonesia, is just one of the many examples that show how MPAs can be effective in reducing ecological strain, and can restore the health of ecosystems over time. The Raj Ampat archipelago is widely viewed as a pristine and lively coral reef ecosystem. However, this reef wasn’t always the poster child of coral reef health. It used to be a victim of overfishing and poor fishing methods (such as dynamite blast fishing), one of the many themes of ocean conservation that are navigated by Dolphin Dude and the Aqua Avengers.

Many initiatives, supported by ocean conservation organizations all over the world, helped to protect the Raja Ampat archipelago. As time passed, the coral reefs recovered incredibly well. In turn, this brought back several species that had previously been forced out. In fact, conservation groups have just recently begun re-introducing zebra sharks to this ecosystem! Zebra sharks are currently listed as a “vulnerable” shark species (meaning their population is declining), so if conservation organizations and scientists can successfully help these sharks reacclimate to their native homes, it will be a huge win for ocean conservation and can even further support the health of the Raja Ampat archipelago!

Bleached coral reef. Notice the lack of marine wildlife

With coral bleaching and coral reef protection (which are also issues addressed by Dolphin Dude the movie) at the forefront of many climate change discussions around the world, I thought it was also worth noting that the coral species inhabiting this region have exhibited an ability to be more resistant to rising ocean temperatures. There is hope among conservation experts that they will be able to replenish the surrounding struggling reefs that don’t have such a high level of resistance to temperature increases. Now, this isn’t a long-term solution to the issues that plague coral reefs and the multitudes of marine wildlife that they support… but it does offer a glimmer of hope, and is a testament to the resiliency of nature and the amazing abilities of ocean ecosystems.

Raja Ampat archipelago coral reef. Notice the rich biodiversity and presence of marine wildlife.

It is my hope that humanity can learn from this situation, and give Mother Nature and ocean ecosystems the space and time they need to recover. After all, this is only one example of MANY, and I look forward to discussing more of these similar situations in future weeks.