Location

  • Berau Regency, East Kalimantan.
  • East of Tanjungbatu, at the Sulawesi Sea.
  • Accessibility: flight from Surabaya via Balikpapan to Tanjungredeb (3 hours), by car to Tanjungbatu (2 hours), by speed-boat to Maratua island (2 hours).

 

Condition

  • Maratua Island is part of Oerawan Archipelago: Oerawan, Sanga/aki, Kakaban, Maratua, Panjang, Sama ma, and several submerged reefs and islets.
  • 9 Maratua Islands: main island with the name of Maratua and cluster of small islands in its bay namely Sidau Island, Semut Island, Andongabu Island, Sangalan Island, Bulingisan Island, Nusa Kokok Island, Bakungan Island, Nunukan Island and Pabahanan Island.
  • Inhabitants: 4 villages and 2,704 people.
  • Fishing is still the most important income-generating activity for the community (Groupers, Napoleon Wrasse, Lobsters)
  • 2 dive resorts on Maratua Islands; more resorts and facilities are on the planning and construction process.
  • Berau Marine Conservation Area is formed in 2005 and has 1,321 million hectares area which lies among Panjang Island, Karangtigau Cape, and Baliktaba Reef. The area has the second highest coral reef biodiversity in Indonesia and the third highest in the world. The ecosystem covers coral reef, mangrove forest, seaweed, and seagrass.
  • Biodiversity: Located in a biodiversity hotspot, Maratua Island features 872 species of reef fish,507 species of coral and invertebrate, including protected species (5 giants clam species, 2 sea turtles, coconut crab, etc). Some party heavily exploiting turtle eggs which is yet the largest green turtle nesting site in Indonesia.
  • Problems: Over fishing, over exploitation including turtle egg collection, destructive fisheries utilizing cyanide and explosives, environmental degradation caused by diving related activities and unsustainable tourism development, increase of sedimentation due to intensive logging activities in Berau estuary nearby, increase of human population with its derivatives which are energy, water, waste, health, education, etc

 

Strategy Proposal

Maratua Island has good development potential for any kind of marine/maritime tourism (diving, sailing, sport fishery). Touristic exploitation has already been commenced, particularly with dive resorts. However, the socio-economic and ecologic effects of these activities are not well balanced until now.

Tourism development shall be combined with restoration and protection measures of the Islands environment, also energy & water supply and disposal solutions.

All development measures shall significantly contribute to the improvement of working (income) and welfare of the island inhabitants.

 

Status Today

ITS and Ministry of Marine Affairs & Fisheries have signed an agreement on the development of small islands.

ITS and Hochschule Wismar have signed a Memorandum of Agreement for the joint conduct of sustainable island development projects under the framework of the "Sustainable Island Development Initiatives (SIDI)"

A Memorandum of Understanding between ITS and the administration of Berau Regency on the development of Maratua has been signed.

In two meetings between ITS, Hochschule Wismar and representatives of Berau Regency, the local situation and development prospects of Maratua Island and Nusantara as a whole have been discussed. Berau Regency has invited both partners to visit Maratua Island for a Fact Finding Mission.

ITS as well as HochschuleWismar have been carefully approached potential industry partners (German and Indonesian). There is considerable interest on both sides, being basis for joint venture opportunities.

A Joint Fact Finding Mission ITS and Hochschule Wismar has been undertaken on 7th-9th of January 2013.

On March 28th, 2014 working group has been established. Consist of various Berau Regency departments and partners as a concrete step to support the agenda of SIDI in Maratua.