Protected areas

After a process of several years of participatory community mapping of zonation boundaries, village and (sub-)district meetings, an important milestone was achieved in 2022 with the establishment of an aquatic conservation area on 8/8/2022 by ministerial decree (Kepmen KP Nomor 49, Tahun 2022: Kawasan Konservasi di Perairan Mahakam Wilayah Hulu Kabupaten Kutai Kartanegara)!! This protected area is the first (!) of its kind to be established by the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (MMAF) within an inland freshwater system in Indonesia and will set an example for more aquatic conservation areas in freshwater habitat. The area has a total size of 42.667,99 ha, including 1.081,28 ha of core area, 30.695,74 ha of limited usage area and 10.890,97 ha of rehabilitation and maintaining ecological function of riparian and swamp areas. Earlier this area was protected at the district level after a district decree was issued by the regent Kutai Kartanegara (SK Bupati, No. 75, 2020) with the support of 27 villages! Establishment of the Aquatic Conservation Area aims to: Secure the quality of the Mahakam Pesut (habitat); Protect other biodiversity as well; Enable food security and Ensure the welfare of the people living in the reserved area

The conservation area used a bottom-ups approach and got the approval of 27 villages living inside the area. The goal is not only to secure the Mahakam Pesut (habitat) but also protect other biodiversity, contribute to the fisheries sector, food security and the welfare of the people living in the reserved areas. This can be achieved through better fish-resources management and improvement of the water quality by maintaining the natural function of swamps and riparian forest instead of large-scale conversions into palm oil plantations.

In December 2023, a 5-20 years management plan for the protected dolphin area, to which development RASI contributed for a great part, obtained a national protection status under the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries. Second, RASI aims to secure additional important buffer habitat of the PA mostly consisting of (peat) swamps (forest), through districts or a provincial decree, as Essential Ecosystems in Kutai Kartanegara and Kutai Barat districts.

Community patrols

Since, November 2019 RASI trained, equipped and supports 5 local community patrols to monitor dolphin movements and document illegal fishing activities that are consequently reported to law-enforcing authorities. Since the start of these patrols for some areas a 50-75% decrease in illegal electro-fishing was observed.

Pinger Distribution

Aseries of trial studies were conducted between 2018 until January 2021 and the results showed that dolphins less often surface within 20m distance of the net and do not seem to feed within 10m distance of the pinger based on acoustic and behavioral display, whereas they do feed at distances over 10m from the pinger. A fish catch study has been undertaken as well to make sure that fish catch is not impacted when fishermen use pingers, whereas the results indicated that larger fish was caught. Pingers were gradually distributed to gillnetting fishermen since mid 2020 and still ongoing while 250 pingers are being used currently (Jan 25) by around 150 fishermen with no signs of fish being eaten from the net and zero (!) mortality in these nets. RASI continues to evaluate potential habituation and while also initiating a new program in 2025 where fishermen with large mesh-sized gillnets may exchange these nets with alternative dolphin friendly gear that is more profitable for them but beyond their economic capacity.

Wildlife Protection

Besides ongoing awareness raising campaigns and socialization in villages on protected animal species, RASI also conducts socialization and direct release with owners of protected species together with BKSDA. Species that were released included protected bird species such as lesser adjutant, grey-headed fish eagle, white-bellied fish eagle.

Stranding Rescue (Training)

During a stranding training workshop in 2015 with participants from 3 sub-districts and during interviews with c. 100 gillnetting fishermen in 2019, dolphin release methods from gillnet entanglement and translocation for dolphins trapped in shallow nearly dried up swamp lakes, were socialized and or practiced. Over the years a total of 7 dolphins were safely rescued from swamps and 11 dolphins released alive from gillnets.
A necropsy workshop was held between 24-25 June 2024 to train local vets and first responders from both private and government organizations. Training was done by two marine mammal vets from Bali (Flying Vets) through theoretical and practical sessions. Through necropsies, toxicology- and histopathology analyses, we have been able to identify causes of many deaths and obtained vital information about the environmental conditions in the river (read more in our annual newsletter).

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