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This Zoning table outlines which activities are permitted or forbidden in each of the MPA Zones.  This zones are clearly marked on the corresponding maps for each of Raja Ampat’s Marine Protected Areas.

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The Dampier Strait Marine Protected Area stands as the second most expansive MPA in Raja Ampat.  Divided into three distinct regions this MPA includes the shoreline zones of Gam and Mansuar Islands, the coastal stretches of Batanta Island, and the coastal areas on the northern and northeastern parts of Salawati Island.

Where Raja Ampat is at the heart of the Coral Triangle, the Dampier Strait is at the heart of Raja Ampat.  The strait benefits from strong oceanic currents that flow from the Pacific Ocean, coupled with upwellings of deep-sea waters that carry a wealth of nutrients into the strait’s waters. This creates an ideal habitat for marine species to prosper and for coral ecosystems to thrive.

Celebrated for having the richest biodiversity across Raja Ampat, the Dampier Strait MPA is well known for its vivid coral reefs and the diverse marine life. The area serves as a magnet for large pelagic species such as sharks, tuna, snapper, grouper, barracuda, and trevally. Additionally, the Dampier Strait also provides a critical refuge and migratory pathway for various marine mammals, including whales, dolphins, and dugongs. It is notably acclaimed for it’s seasonal aggregations of both species manta ray.

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Adjacent to Palau and the Philippines, the Asia Ayau Islands mark some of Indonesia’s most distant territories, with the Asia Ayau Marine Protected Area  encompassing 99,339 hectares.

This MPA features a vast coral reef bank and atoll among its island surroundings. Celebrated for hosting the most significant grouper spawning grounds in Eastern Indonesia, this sensitive ecosystem is crucial for supplying grouper fish and eggs to the Maluku and Halmahera regions, as well as extensive portions of Papua’s Bird’s Head Seascape.

The Asia Ayau Islands Archipelago serves as a critical area for economically valuable fish species including napoleon wrasse, trevally, tuna, skipjack, and other pelagic species like mackerel.  Additionally, this MPA recognized for it’s significant, highly senstive sea turtle nesting sites, accommodating both the Green Turtle (Chelonia mydas) and the Leatherback Turtle (Dermochelys coriacea).  The local waters are also home to Bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus), spinner dolphins (Stenella longirostris), and sperm whales (Khazalie et al., 2011).

Being such a remote area, communities here depend upon a continued state of reef to survive, relying heaving on fishing to survive. Given it’s location and grouper spawnings, during the 1990s, Hong Kong vessels frequented Ayau to purchase live groupers directly from the locals for export – profiting greatly from the practice whilst depleting the seas for local people.  This activity, along with destructive fishing practices like blast fishing and cyanide use, have largely ceased with the establishment of the Asia and Ayau MPA in 2007, although on occasion, illegal fishing vessels or practices occur the area.

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Covering an expanse of 49,451ha, the Mayalibit Bay Marine Protected Area (MPA) nearly divides the island of Waigeo in half. The bay is distinguished by its extensive mangrove forests and seagrass beds, with seagrass extending about 70 meters from the mangrove edges to the shoreline. While the presence of hard corals is limited, the bay is thought to be a crucial habitat for  economically valuable marine life such as mackerel, rabbitfish, shrimp, trevally, snapper and mud crab (Scylla), making it a critical area for marine biodiversity and conservation.

This area is markedly different from the more well known areas of Raja Ampat; a narrow mouth opens into a vast, cliff lined bay, containing large networks of mangrove and seagrass and surrounded by dense, primary rainforest. Rivers and inlets snake their way through the forest, which can occasionally be followed to their source.

Mayalibit Bay is considered the ancestral home of the Maya people, the indigenous inhabitants of Raja Ampat, residing in 11 villages and 1 hamlet within the bay.

Mayalibit Bay was officially designated as a Marine Protected Area on November 15,  2006, following a customary declaration by the Waifoi village community, and was the first MPA within Raja Ampat.

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In March 2018, the North Misool Marine Protected Area was formally acknowledged as an MPA by the local community, in partnership with Yayasan Nazareth Papua and Conservation International.  This endorsement reflected the shared vision of the Matbat and Matlou communities residing in North Misool’s nine villages, to designate 313,708 hectares of their marine territory as a conservation area.

North Misool’s marine ecosystem, though less explored compared to other regions in Raja Ampat, has been recognized for its biodiversity. The area is frequented by marine mammals such as dolphins, Bryde’s whales, orcas, and whale sharks. It’s also a critical habitat for sharks, manta rays, and notably, hosts significant populations of saltwater crocodiles in its northern rivers.

A notable conservation effort in North Misool is the dugong surveillance program initiated in 2008 by Yayasan Nazareth Papua and the community, aimed at identifying and conserving dugong feeding areas. This initiative has grown into a broader conservation project, including patrols to monitor dugong populations.

Although rich in biodiversity, North Misool faces challenges from illegal and destructive fishing practices, such as bomb and cyanide fishing, and the poaching of protected species. The area’s remoteness and limited access exacerbate governance and conservation challenges.

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The Misool Islands Marine Protected Area, positioned in Raja Ampat’s southernmost region, spans over 346,189 hectares.

Renowned for its diverse marine life, the Misool Islands are especially famous for their flourishing soft coral ecosystems. The underwater landscape features rocky formations, coral pinnacles, and shelters teeming with a variety of marine life including enormous gorgonian sea fans, vibrant tunicates, swarms of jacks, barracudas, and even larger gatherings of fusiliers. Frequent sightings of groupers and reef sharks add to the area’s allure, alongside the mesmerizing presence of pygmy seahorses and diverse nudibranch species decorating the coral habitats.

The richness and diversity of the reefs are attributed to the area’s proximity to the Ceram Trough’s deep waters, which facilitate nutrient upwelling from the Indonesian Throughflow moving south towards the Banda Sea.

The MPA also features secluded beaches that are vital nesting sites for green and hawksbill turtles, regions frequented by aggregating manta rays, and river estuaries home to saltwater crocodiles.

The Misool Islands are also home to abundant mangrove forests, including rare Bluewater Mangroves, which servei as critical habitats for various fish, shrimp, and crabs, crucial for local sustenance.

In the early 2000s, the Misool Islands faced threats from destructive fishing methods. To combat this, a joint initiative in 2005 between the local community and Misool Eco Resort established the first No Take Zone. This effort has expanded into a comprehensive conservation program led by the Misool Foundation, working closely with the Raja Ampat Marine Park Authority to safeguard the area through regular patrols, radar, and drone surveillance, significantly increasing marine biomass and shark populations within the protected zones. This collaborative model, emphasizing sustainable tourism and the traditional ‘sasi’ practice, is crucial for the ongoing protection and management of the Misool Islands’ marine and terrestrial resources.

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