Maluku Establishes New UPTD for Marine Governance

The Government of Maluku Province has officially strengthened the governance of its marine protected areas through the issuance of Governor Regulation No. 6 of 2026, which formally establishes the Regional Technical Implementation Unit (UPTD) for Class A Provincial Marine Protected Area Management. Enacted on 22 June 2026, the regulation provides the legal foundation for a more professional, adaptive, and sustainable institutional framework for managing marine protected areas across one of Indonesia's largest archipelagic provinces.

The UPTD’s establishment strategically enhances marine protected area management, conserving biodiversity while boosting food security, sustainable fisheries, coastal economies, and community well-being. Maluku manages 4,352,611.66 hectares of conservation areas across 23 locations (including 2,667,405.61 hectares of Regional Marine Protected Areas (KKPD)), significantly supporting Indonesia’s 30×45 national target. To optimize operational effectiveness, the new UPTD divides oversight into two regions: Marine Region I (Buru and Seram areas) and Marine Region II (Aru, Kei, Tanimbar, and Southwest Maluku islands).

Erawan Asikin, Head of the Maluku Provincial Marine Affairs and Fisheries Office, said the establishment of the UPTD marks an important step toward strengthening governance of marine protected areas while maintaining a balance between the conservation of marine ecosystems and the sustainable use of resources.

"The establishment of the Maluku Provincial Marine Protected Area Management Unit is expected to strengthen the balance between protecting marine ecosystems, ensuring the sustainable use of marine resources, and improving the well-being of coastal communities that depend on them,"

he said.

According to Erawan, the Governor Regulation was developed through a collaborative process involving the Maluku Provincial Government, Indonesia's Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries, and a range of conservation partners. This collaboration laid the foundation for a management system capable of addressing the challenges associated with managing marine protected areas.

Despite progress, managing extensive marine protected areas faces limited resources, infrastructure, and sustainable funding. To address this, the Provincial Government is strengthening institutional frameworks through the Regional Public Service Agency (BLUD) model while expanding partnerships with communities, universities, civil society, and the private sector to enhance management effectiveness and sustainability.

The establishment of the UPTD is the culmination of years of institutional strengthening supported by the Global Environment Facility-6 Coastal Fisheries Initiative (GEF-6 CFI) Indonesia, in partnership with the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries, the Maluku Provincial Government, district governments, and development partners.

Through GEF-6 CFI Indonesia grant support, a series of strategic initiatives has been facilitated, including institutional capacity building, preparation of technical and policy documents, and support for the establishment of three new Provincial Marine Protected Areas in Buru, South Buru, and East Seram Regencies. The programme has also supported the institutional establishment of the UPTD, development of a Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES) mechanism, and preparation for implementing the BLUD financing model to promote more sustainable and financially resilient management of marine protected areas.

Adipati Rahmat, Project Manager of the GEF-6 CFI Indonesia PMU, said the establishment of the UPTD demonstrates how multi-stakeholder collaboration can produce institutional change that continues to generate benefits well beyond the project's completion.

"The establishment of this UPTD reflects years of collaboration among the national and provincial governments, local communities, universities, civil society organizations, and development partners. Strong institutions are the foundation for managing marine protected areas effectively while ensuring that conservation delivers tangible benefits to coastal communities,"

he said.

According to Adipati, conservation areas are no longer viewed solely as protected areas, but are also recognised as instruments of development that support ecosystem-based fisheries management, biodiversity conservation, food security and Indonesia's Blue Economy agenda.

"We believe marine conservation must generate ecological, social, and economic benefits simultaneously. Strengthening institutional capacity through the UPTD is an essential step toward ensuring that marine protected areas are managed professionally, adaptively, and sustainably. We hope Maluku's experience will serve as a model of good practice for other coastal regions across Indonesia,"

he added.

He noted that the UPTD's establishment shows how GEF investments deliver long-term impacts beyond short-term projects by building institutional foundations for Maluku’s 4.3 million hectares of marine protected areas. This experience illustrates how international funding strengthens local governance, improves policy frameworks, stimulates innovative financing, and generates replicable management models.

The Maluku UPTD provides a robust, science-based institutional foundation for stakeholder-inclusive marine protected area management. This initiative safeguards eastern Indonesia’s biodiversity while positioning marine conservation as a long-term investment in food security, resilient coastal economies, and sustainable ocean development.