The abundance of Indonesia’s marine and fisheries resources is prone to be overexploited and depleted, when the water resources uses are not compatible with the natural availability of resources and their carrying capcity. With this concern, the Government of Indonesia through Law No. 27/2007 and Law No. I/2014 on Coastal and Small Islands management oblige local government to develop and enact local regulations on Coastal and Small Islands Zoning Plan (RZWPK) as a mechanism to manage marine areas. In 2015, the Government of Indonesia has strengthened the commitment to the development and finalization of RZWP3K or marine spatial plans at the local level, through National Movement on Saving Natural Resources.
In 2016, there were only five provincial governments that had developed the local regulation on Coastal and Small Islands Zoning Plan or Rencana Zonasi Wilayah Pesisir dan Pulau-Pulau Kecil (RZWPK). Meanwhile the remaining 29 provinces, including the three SEA Project Provinces (Maluku, North Maluku, and West Papua) are still struggling in the process to develop the RZWP3K.
Through its Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) technical approach, the USAID SEA project is supporting the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (MMAF), Maluku, North Maluku, and West Papua Provinces to develop and implement MSP systems to enhance conservation and sustainable use of marine resources and fisheries productivity, food security, and sustainable livelihoods within the Fisheries Management Area of 715. Throughout 2017, the activities that fall under MSP technical approach will focus on supporting the provincial governments in developing and finalizing MSP documents and their local regulations. The USAID SEA Project also works to support the three provincial governments to develop zoning regulations based on the actual and valid marine resources condition, through a participatory process. The USAID SEA Project aims to ensure that customary laws and the rights of communities in marine spatial and resource uses are well recognized in the marine spatial regulations.