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The pristine condition of the islands was maintained for centuries by their remote location and adherence to traditional practices, but unsustainable fishing, increased tourism, and impacts of the pandemic now severely threaten this unique ecosystem.    

A reduction in surveillance and enforcement of its marine protected area has allowed illegal fishing and destructive tourism practices to increase, causing damage to ancient coral reefs and a decline in fauna such as sharks and mantas. The pandemic’s economic impact has pushed local communities into unsustainable practices to sustain their livelihoods.  

We are supplying rangers with speed boats, uniforms, communication, and visual recording devices. Integrating local staff, resort operators and governmental bodies, our mission is to curb illegal activities and create a framework for sustainable fishing and marine tourism.    

In 2025, Blue Marine and marine advocate Zafer Kizilkaya – who has done much to expand ocean protection in Türkiye – will hold training programmes with local communities, regional government and MPA authorities. We will push ahead with baseline assessment of coral reefs, and areas where illegal fishing occurs most frequently will be identified. We aim to increase the fleet of patrol vessels to at least four, manned by local marine stewards.  

To the north of the country’s Bird’s Head Seascape marine protected area (MPA) we are working with Indonesian partners Raja Ampat Sea Centre Foundation to establish ranger teams and strengthen patrolling. We aim to replicate the successful enforcement model developed on Blue Marine projects in Türkiye.