To safeguard Raja Ampat’s unparalleled marine ecosystems, all individuals and organisations are required to adhere to the established Regulations and Codes of Conduct. These guidelines are essential for ensuring the sustainable management of Marine Protected Areas and the wider region, protecting the vibrant coral reefs and abundant marine life for generations to come.
By following these regulations, we can help maintain sustainable fisheries, secure the food resources, culture and heritage for local communities, and support eco-tourism and other livelihoods that depend on the health of these ecosystems.
For detailed information, please review the Regulations and Legal Framework below, which form the foundation of sustainable use and management within Raja Ampat Marine Park, as outlined in the Management and Zoning Plan – Raja Ampat Marine Protected Areas 2019-2038 and as supported by the Legal Framework.
Please note: We strive to ensure this page always contains the most up-to-date laws and regulations. However, at times, changes may occasionally occur that we are not immediately aware of. For the latest and most accurate information, please visit the Raja Ampat Marine Park and Marine Park Management Authority website.
Permits
Tourists and Visitors
All tourists and visitors are required to purchase their Marine Park Entry Card prior to entering.
All Vessels
All Vessels (commercial and recreational) must ensure they have the operational permits relevant to their activities within the Marine Park.
Zoning
Zoning
Each Marine Protected Area contains specific Zones with rules that define the activities that are permitted, the activities that are prohibited, and the activities that require a permit.
All individuals and organisations must abide by Marine Park Zoning Regulation, please refer to the specific Marine Protected Area Zoning Maps for details.
Core Zone: A conservation zone (a ‘No-Go Zone’) designated based on the highly ecological significant ecological value. Access is granted only through restricted permit that covers limited purposes.
Food Security and Tourism Zone: Commonly known as a “No Take Zone”. All forms of fishing are prohibited within these Zones. Food Security and Tourism Zones also accommodate sustainable tourism activities.
Sasi and Traditional Utilisation Zone: Zone specifically designated for the benefit of the local community that supports local, sustainable fishing activities and cultural practices. Traditional Utilisation Zones also accommodate Sustainable Tourism Activities.
Sustainable Fisheries and Aquaculture Zone: Only limited commercial-scale fishing and aquaculture activities are allowed within this Zone, and are subject to sustainable management regulation. Sustainable Fisheries and Aquaculture Zones also accommodate sustainable tourism activities.
Shipping Lanes: This zone is devoted to shipping lines who must remain within the lanes at all times.
Prohibited Activities
The following activities are strictly prohibited and considered violations against Raja Ampat Marine Park regulation. Conducting any of the activities listed below can result action against the perpetrator(s). Some activities, as identified, are permitted under special Zoning, permit or quota regulation.
Protected Species
Raja Ampat Regency is a Shark Sanctuary, and all sharks are protected within its waters. The Marine Park also offers protection to a number ecologically and economically important ocean species including (but is not limited to) sawfish, guitarfish, wedgefish, shovelnose rays, mobular rays, cownose rays, devil rays, eagle rays, bull nose, mobular, bull ray, marble ray, and all marine mammals.
Both species of Manta Ray (M. birostris and M. alfrediei), and all species of Sea Turtle also receive full protection status under the law of the Republic of Indonesia.
Click Here for a full list of Protected Species
With respect to species listed as protected, any and all persons are prohibited to:
- Catch, injure, kill, keep, posses, care for, transport and trade in a protected animal species in a live condition.
- Keep, posses, care for, transport and trade in a protected animal species in dead condition.
- Transfer a protected animal species from one place to another, both inside and outside Indonesian borders
- Trade, keep or posses skin, bodies or other parts of a protected animal, or goods made of parts of the animal, or transfer from one place in Indonesia to another, within or outside Indonesia.
- Take, destroy, exterminate, trade, keep, or posses eggs and/or a nest of a protected animal.
Violation of Sasi (Traditional Resource Management Zone)
Local communities in Raja Ampat practice ‘sasi’ as a means to sustainably manage natural resources. With respect to marine environments, this can be opening and closing access to certain areas for fishing, and/or restricting or limiting specific activities.
All Local Community sasi’s must be respected.
Littering: Rubbish and Trash
Littering in any form is prohibited. This includes the unsuitable disposal of rubbish by not using bins provided, burying, dropping or leaving rubbish on land, dropping or dumping rubbish in the sea or any other waterways.
Damaging ecosystems or any other marine life
Damaging ecosystems or any other marine life is prohibited. This includes handling, harming or harassing marine life, or any willful or unintentional damage to any ecosystem within the park.
Spearfishing
It is prohibited for any tourists or visitors to be spearfishing for any purpose. (Local community members may use traditional spearfishing methods such as jubi and senapan molo, in Sustainable Fisheries and Aquaculture Zones).
Coral Mining
The removal of live corals from the water for uses including (but not limited to) bricks, road fill, cement or other construction material is prohibited.
Introduction of foreign biota
The introduction to Raja Ampat of any foreign species, plant or animal, that are not native to Raja Ampat Regency is prohibited.
Conducting Research without permit
Conducting scientific research without the required permits from relevant authorities is prohibited.
Feeding Fish and other Marine Species
Feeding fish or any other marine species is generally prohibited, particularly during tourism activities such as diving and snorkelling. Under the special conditions outlined in the Code of Conduct, fish feeding may occur at specific locations (only).
Seismic Surveys, Mining (oil and gas)
Seismic Surveys and all types of mining activities are prohibited within Marine Protected Areas.
Destructive and Unsustainable Fishing
The following methods of fishing are prohibited:
Blast Fishing: the use of explosives to stun or kill schools of fish
Cyanide Fishing: spraying sodium cyanide or potassium cyanide into marine habitats in order to stun and catch fish or other marine species.
Compressor Fishing: divers using breathing hoses attached to a surface air compressor in order to collect fish or other marine species
Trawler Fishing: actively dragging or pulling a trawl net through the water behind one or more trawlers, at either seabed, mid-water or specified depth.
Purse Seine Fishing: Using purse seine fishing techniques; a large wall of netting deployed to capture an entire area or school of fish
Longline Fishing: Use of a long fishing line (main line) with multiple baited hooks attached at intervals.
Unsustainable or Damaging Fishing Practice: any fishing practice that endangers sustainability of natural resources
Other Fishing Methods
Bagan Fishing: using boats with large nets and lights suspended underneath, to attract and catch large numbers of fish is prohibited.
Fish Aggregation Devices (FADs): Using floating objects (buoys, rafts attached to ocean floor) that are designed and strategically placed to attract fish is prohibited.
Fishing Vessels >2Gross Ton: Fishing Vessels >2GT are not permitted to conduct fishing activities within Marine Protected Areas. Fishing Vessels <2GT are permitted to conduct fishing activities within the Sustainable Fisheries and Aquaculture Zones, subject to permits and sustainable management regulation.
Fishing with SCUBA diving equipment: using SCUBA diving equipment for spearfishing or any other capture or collection of marine species is prohibited.
Sero: a traditional trap typically consisting of an array of fences that guide fish towards the trap. Existing Sero are permitted in accordance with regulation. The installation of any new Sero is not permitted.
Other nets and traps: Use of Muroami and gill nets is prohibited. (Traditional ‘bubu’ fishing traps are permitted in the Sustainable Fisheries and Aquaculture Sub-zones, and as long as there are permits from the local community members and are subject to catch quota. ‘Jala’ and ‘Jaring Belo’ is permitted in the Sustainable Fishing and Aquaculture Zones, as long as there are permits from the local community members and in accordance with Zoning Regulation and any other relevant regulation).
Catching Crabs and Prawns: is prohibited in Core Zones and No Take Zones. (Catching crabs and prawns is permitted in the Sustainable Fisheries and Aquaculture Sub-zones, as long as there are permits from the local community members and in accordance with Zoning Regulation and any other relevant regulation)
Bameti: the collection of fish, molluscs and crustaceans from reef flats at low tide is prohibited in Core Zones and No Take Zones. Bameti is permitted in the Sustainable Fishing and Aquaculture Sub-zones, as long as there are permits from the local community members and in accordance with Zoning Regulation and any other relevant regulation. Bameti fishing must not use any tools and methods that can damage coral reefs.
Capture of Ornamental Fish: the capture of any fish with the intention to use or sell for ornamental purposes is prohibited.
Aquaculture
Cultivation of Pearls: pearl farming is prohibited in all Zones, with the exception of Sustainable Fisheries and Aquaculture Zones, and after obtaining the required operational permits.
Fish Farms: fish farming (all species) is prohibited in all Zones,with the exception of Sustainable Fisheries and Aquaculture Zones, and after obtaining the required operational permits.
Ponds and Dams: constructing ponds or dams for the purpose of cultivating fish or other marine species is prohibited.
Damaging Coral
Damaging coral in any way is forbidden. This includes damage caused by stepping or walking on coral and coral reefs, cutting, moving or removing coral, boat strike or anchor damage to coral reefs, grafitti, defacing or writing on coral, or any other form of behavior that results in damage or destruction of coral.
Removal of Coral
The collection and removal of coral, dead or alive is forbidden.
Jetskis and Motorised Water Sports
It is prohibited to use jet-skis or any form of motorized water sport within the Marine Protected Areas (MPAs).
Collecting and removal of natural objects
The collection of natural objects (marine or terrestrial, living or dead), such as shells, fish, seahorses, coral or wood, for intended removal from Raja Ampat or Indonesia is prohibited within Raja Ampat Marine Park.
Collecting and removal of historical or cultural objects
The collection and removal of historical and cultural objects prohibited.
Mangrove Felling
The cutting or removal of mangroves is forbidden.
Sand Mining
The extraction of sand from beaches, sea bed or any other location, for use in manufacturing or construction is forbidden.
Legal Framework: Marine Protected Areas, Regency, Provincial and National Laws
The legal basis for securing and protecting the Raja Ampat Regency Waters and Raja Ampat Marine Protected Areas are supported by the following:
1. Governor of West Papua’s Decree Number 523/124/7/2019 on the Management and Zoning Plan – Raja Ampat Marine Protected Areas, West Papua Province 2019-2038 and the Management Plan 2019 – 2038 (actual).
2. West Papua Governor Regulation Number 4 of the Year 2019 on The Tariff for Maintaining Environmental Services by the Raja Ampat Marine Park Authority
3. Minister of Marine and Fisheries of the Republic of Indonesia’s Decree Number 63/KEPMEN-KP/2014 on Management and Zoning Plan Raja Ampat Islands and Surrounding Seas Nature Reserve in West Papua Province 2014-2034
4. Minister of Marine and Fisheries of the Republic of Indonesia’s Decree Number 36/KEPMEN-KP/2014 on Marine Protected Areas of the Raja Ampat Islands, Raja Ampat Regency, West Papua Province
5. Minister of Marine and Fisheries of the Republic of Indonesia, Decree Number Kep.65 / men / 2009, on the Establishment of the Conservation area of West Waigeo Islands and Surrounding Areas Marine Reserve in the Province of West Papua
6. Raja Ampat Regency Regulation Number 5 of the Year 2009 on Marine Protected Areas, Raja Ampat Regency
7. Raja Ampat Regency Regulation Number 27 of the Year 2008 on Marine Protected Areas, Raja Ampat Regency
100% of your donation goes to
the field.
If left unchecked, 90% of coral reefs will be threatened by 2030, with almost all reefs facing, high, very high, or critical threat levels by 2050.
If we don’t act now, future generations will not have the privilege of seeing a live coral reef, let alone receive the benefits that coral reefs provide, including food, coastal protection, livelihoods and medicine.
In Raja Ampat, Indonesia, the most biodiverse coral reefs on Earth are under threat; rapid and unsustainable development combined with climate change threaten the future of these reefs, along with the food security, heritage and livelihoods of many.
Your contribution today has a direct impact in enabling our team to work with local people to Restore, Protect and Conserve reefs in the world’s last remaining coral stronghold.
We cannot do it alone, but with your contribution we can do it together.
100% of your donation goes to
the field.
If left unchecked, 90% of coral reefs will be threatened by 2030, with almost all reefs facing, high, very high, or critical threat levels by 2050.
If we don’t act now, future generations will not have the privilege of seeing a live coral reef, let alone receive the benefits that coral reefs provide, including food, coastal protection, livelihoods and medicine.
In Raja Ampat, Indonesia, the most biodiverse coral reefs on Earth are under threat; rapid and unsustainable development combined with climate change threaten the future of these reefs, along with the food security, heritage and livelihoods of many.
Your contribution today has a direct impact in enabling our team to work with local people to Restore, Protect and Conserve reefs in the world’s last remaining coral stronghold.
We cannot do it alone, but with your contribution we can do it together.
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Yayasan Orang Laut Papua is a registered NGO under the Ministry of Law and Human Rights Republic of Indonesia. Number AHU-0016408. Year 2019. The SEA People is a registered Charitable Association under the Gouvernement de la République in France (Numero Identification Siren 853074300) and serves as an administrative and fundrasing base for supporting the fieldwork of Yaysan Orang Laut Papua. Privacy Policy Terms & Conditions