The Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (KKP), together with the Raja Ampat Marine Affairs and Fisheries Office (DKP), held a socialization event on marine waste prevention and management, which was followed by a beach clean-up campaign. This event, funded by the GEF 6 CFI Indonesia grant, took place at the PKK Sanggar Hall in Saporkren Hamlet, South Waigeo District, Raja Ampat in mid-2024.

This waste prevention and management socialization, along with the following beach clean up, was part of GEF 6 CFI’s support for KKP’s Blue Economy priority programs. These priorities include: the expansion of marine conservation areas to cover 30% of Indonesia’s waters; implementation of a quota-based measurable fishing policy (PIT) by zone; development of sustainable and eco-friendly aquaculture; preservation of coastal and small island areas; and the 'Love the Sea Month' program-which promote nationwide marine clean-ups.

Raja Ampat Regent’s Advisor on Political Affairs, Albert Kaihatu, stated that as one of the world’s leading marine tourism destinations, Raja Ampat has a major responsibility to preserve the beauty and sustainability of its marine environment.

He emphasized that waste is a serious issue that threatens marine ecosystems, public health, and the sustainability of tourism.

Albert expressed hope that this socialization would raise public awareness about the importance of marine waste management. "I call on communities, private sector actors, government institutions, and individuals to actively keep our environment waste-free," he said.

He added that the beach and ocean clean-up following the outreach was a shared commitment to maintaining environmental cleanliness. He hoped the initiative would not be merely symbolic but a tangible joint action to keep the coast and sea free of waste, particularly plastic waste. "I thank UNIPA and GEF-6 for partnering with the Raja Ampat Regency Government to realize this initiative," said Albert Kaihatu.

He also invited all participants to strengthen their commitment to protecting nature, especially the ocean and coastline of Raja Ampat, for the advancement of tourism. "Let’s make this event a momentum to reinforce our shared commitment to preserving nature," he urged.

The educational sessions on marine waste were delivered by Jhonny Patris Umalan from the Raja Ampat Environmental Service and Djumiati Mustiah, an academic from the University of Papua (UNIPA).

Community Awareness: A Shared Responsibility for Clean Seas

Zulaida Kelibay, Head of Fishery Product Processing, Marketing, and Competitiveness at the Raja Ampat Fisheries Service, explained that the program aimed to educate the people of Saporkren Hamlet to manage and reuse waste locally. Proper waste handling will help keep the environment clean and attract more tourists to Saporkren Tourism Village.

According to Zulaida, the event involved local fishers, women, and youth. The socialization itself was part of the GEF 6 CFI Indonesia program and will serve as a reference for future initiatives.

The results of 2025 PMU CFI Indonesia evaluation show positive progress. Community awareness of waste management, especially on plastic waste, has improved significantly. People are now sorting household waste and disposing of it properly. The coast is no longer treated as a dumping ground. This shift has been supported by the local government’s role in encouraging residents to maintain their environment as a tourism destination.

Community Awareness: A Shared Responsibility for Clean Seas

The government and people of Raja Ampat have demonstrated their commitment to protecting the marine environment from plastic pollution. In recognition of this commitment, in 2025 GEF 6 CFI Indonesia implemented capacity-building programs to enhance local fishers’ livelihoods. These included ecoprint batik and sewing training as alternative livelihoods for fisherwomen, as well as boat engine repair, fishing gear assembly, and GPS and fish finder operation training for Raja Ampat fishers.