CORAL TRIANGLE CURRENTS
MARCH 2012
CTI-CFF Moves Closer to Finalizing Region-Wide Marine Protected Area System

CTI COM Meeting
Workshop participants visit to one of the communities inside the 20,000-hectare Nusa Penida Marine Protected Area in Indonesia.
Photo Credit: Hesti Widodo/CTC
The six member states of the Coral Triangle Initiative on Coral Reefs, Fisheries and Food Security (CTI-CFF) have laid the foundations for the establishment of a Coral Triangle Marine Protected Area (MPA) System during a workshop held on March 26-30, 2012 in Denpasar, Indonesia. The development of the regional MPA system is one of the five main goals of the CTI and is defined as a "comprehensive, ecologically representative, and well-managed region-wide MPA system that is connected, resilient, and sustainably financed, and designed in ways that generate significant income, livelihoods and food security benefits for coastal communities, and conserve the region's rich biological diversity." MORE
Highlights
Scoping Study Aims to Close Scientific Gaps in Coral Triangle Marine Protected Area Management
KM Workshop Strengthens Coordination Among CTI NCCs
Timor-Leste Develops Financial Strategy for CTI National Plan of Action Implementation
CTI-CFF Strengthens Cooperation with Australian Government
Coral Triangle Initiative Regional Business Forum Inspires Sustainable Fisheries Partnership
Scoping Study Aims to Close Scientific Gaps in Coral Triangle Marine Protected Area Management

USAID's Coral Triangle Support Partnership completed a scoping study on March 15, 2012 that identified major scientific gaps that need to be addressed to establish and manage an effective Coral Triangle Initiative on Coral Reefs, Fisheries and Food Security (CTI-CFF) marine protected area (MPA) system. These include the need for scientific data to understand key biological and physical factors necessary for MPA network design such as ocean currents, habitat types, spawning and nesting areas, among others. It also noted the need for scientific assessments to understand social factors such as attitudes and beliefs on the marine environment, traditional knowledge, and customary marine tenure systems. MORE

Knowledge Management Workshop Strengthens Coordination Among CTI-CFF National Coordinating Committees

Representatives from the CTI-CFF National Coordinating Committees 
CTI COM Meeting
Participants at the KM Workshop held in March Credit: ADB KM for CTI Project
(NCC) gathered on March 14-16, 2012 in Manila, Philippines to participate in a workshop aimed to build capacity in integrating knowledge management at the organizational and network level and at the same time strengthen coordination among marine conservation projects in the Coral Triangle region.

Apart from learning the concepts of knowledge management, the participants also learned hands-on exercises in using various KM tools such as Google Docs and the Community Platform of the International Waters Learning Exchange and Resource Network (IW:LEARN).  At the end of the workshop, participants agreed to form a community of practice where they can share road maps and resources on knowledge management; compile an expertise directory; develop online learning modules on KM, among others. MORE
Timor-Leste Develops Financial Strategy for CTI National Plan of Action Implementation 

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) Knowledge Management for the Coral Triangle Initiative (CTI) Project organized a workshop on March 26 to April 2, 2012 in Dili, Timor-Leste to build the capacity of government, non-government and academic representatives in developing a financial strategy to implement activities in the country's CTI National Plan of Action (NPOA). The financial strategy will include a status report on the level of funding available for NPOA implementation as well as priority actions and the cost needed to implement these on the ground. The strategy will utilize sustainable financing modalities including Payments for Ecosystem Services and will also explore several funding sources such as current donor programs, tapping potential development partners, and the possibility of generating internal funding sources. MORE 
CTI-CFF Strengthens Cooperation with Australian Government

The CTI-CFF Interim Regional Secretariat met with representatives from the Australian Government on March 7, 2012 in Jakarta to strengthen cooperation in promoting CTI-CFF goals. The Australian Government was represented by Travis Bover, Director for Marine Policy Development, Marine Division, Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities while the CTI-CFF Interim Regional Secretariat was represented by its Executive Chairman Dr. Suseno Sukoyono.  During the meeting, the two parties discussed the establishment of formal mechanism for Australian Government assistance to the CTI-CFF which includes support in the recruitment of staff members and mobilization of technical experts in the field of international law. MORE

Coral Triangle Initiative Regional Business Forum Inspires Sustainable Fisheries Partnership

On February 2, 2012, leading Hawaii-based seafood processing and distribution company Norpac Fisheries Export announced that it has forged a partnership with Indonesian tuna fishing company PT Sari Segara Utama to explore the use of sustainable fishing methods.

The partnership will expand both companies' effort to use circle hooks in tuna fishing to reduce the rate of unintended bycatch specifically threatened species such as sea turtles. The new partnership was formed during the Coral Triangle Initiative on Coral Reefs, Fisheries and Food Security (CTI-CFF) Regional Business Forum held in October 2011 in Kuala Lumpur supported by USAID and WWF. MORE

To read Norpac's statement, follow this link.

Photo Caption: A fishermen shows the difference between a circle hook and a j-hook. The former is easier to remove and has lesser impact on bycatch compared to the latter. Credit: WWF 

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May 22-25, 2012 

Worldwide
June 8, 2012

Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, PNG, Solomon Islands, Timor-Leste
June 9, 2012

Cairns, Australia
July 9-13, 2012

For more information on the CTI-CFF, contact:   

Dr. Darmawan
Coordinator, CTI-CFF Interim Regional Secretariat                                             
Email:[email protected]
Ph: +62-21-351 9070 ext 1723, 62-21-3521780
      
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