Sorong, Southwest Papua — ICCF Indonesia and the Working Group on Blue Economy under the Committee for Inter-Parliamentary Cooperation of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR-RI) delegation met with the Governor of Southwest Papua and the Head of the Provincial Marine and Fisheries Service (DKP) to discuss the province’s priority agenda for marine governance and ongoing progress on the Raja Ampat Mooring System (RAMS). The discussion reaffirmed the province’s ambition to position Southwest Papua as a national leader in sustainable marine tourism and blue economy development.
Provincial Vision: Blue Economy as the Foundation for Development
The Governor and DKP leadership outlined the province’s long-term vision of developing Southwest Papua as a gateway of sustainable growth for Tanah Papua, underpinned by a blue economy framework. Key priorities include strengthening marine management institutions, TFCCA rollouts, expanding community-led conservation initiatives, and ensuring that marine governance integrates ecological protection with economic opportunities. These priorities highlight the need for locally managed financing mechanisms to support marine tourism infrastructure such as RAMS.
Progress on the Raja Ampat Mooring System (RAMS)
DKP provided a detailed update on RAMS, which is being implemented through BLUD-UPTD KKP Raja Ampat in collaboration with national agencies and conservation partners. The first mooring units were installed in Friwen in 2024, forming the initial phase of a planned deployment of approximately 170 moorings across priority dive sites. This represents a coordinated, system-wide upgrade to protect coral reefs from anchor damage. The system will be supported through an official user-fee model designed to fund long-term maintenance, monitoring, and future expansion. Local communities are involved throughout the process, from planning and installation to routine supervision, ensuring that RAMS strengthens both marine conservation and local livelihoods. This progress reflects the province’s commitment to improving tourism standards, enhancing reef protection, and advancing locally driven marine stewardship.
Funding Governance: Ensuring the Right Institutional Alignment
The meeting also underscored the importance of a clear and well-aligned funding mechanism to support future phases of RAMS. Provincial leaders welcomed the readiness of tourism industry partners to co-finance the infrastructure and emphasised that contributions can be accommodated through various channels, provided these are clearly specified in cooperation agreements. Officials expressed openness to continued collaboration to ensure funding pathways remain transparent, effective, and aligned with provincial priorities.
Kaukus MPs expressed that if the desire is for the funds to go directly through the Provincial Government, then a formal agreement needs to explicitly state that the funds should be channeled through the Southwest Papua Government.
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