The Fisheries and Marine Science Expedition is an expedition conducted by students from the Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Science (FPIK) IPB University. It is a program of the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) facilitated by grant funding from the Global Environment Facility (GEF-6) CFI Indonesia. The objectives were to support measurable fishing policies by exploring coastal ecosystems and associated biota—such as mangroves, seagrass beds, coral reefs, and leatherback turtles—, observing fisheries and community socio-economic conditions, promoting the establishment of marine conservation areas in collaboration with the Maluku Provincial Marine Affairs and Fisheries Office (DKP), and conducting EAFM assessments in Kepala Madan Sub-district, Southern Buru Regency, Buru Island, Maluku, Indonesia.

This was the first student-led expedition ever held in Southern Buru. It was designed and carried out by 40 students and 4 field supervisors from four FPIK IPB student organizations: the Fisheries Diving Club (FDC), the Student Association of Fisheries Resource Utilization (HIMAFARIN), the Student Association of Aquatic Resource Management (HIMASPER), and the Student Association of Marine Science and Technology (HIMITEKA). The Lead Field Supervisor was Dr. Fis Purwangka, S.Pi., M.Si., with Gondewa Putra Wisnu as Expedition Coordinator. The team was officially dispatched by the Dean of FPIK of IPB, Prof. Dr. Ir. Fredinan Yulianda, M.Sc.

The expedition, conducted at the end of 2024, was successfully completed. Its results produced key recommendations for establishing a marine protected area in Southern Buru, targeted for official designation in 2025. It also contributed to measurable fishing policy through EAFM-based evaluation.

The survey site, Kepala Madan Sub-district, features a thriving mangrove ecosystem. Observations showed the mangrove forests were green, dense, and rich with species such as Rhizophora, Sonneratia, Nipah, Syringodium, Halodule, and Cymodocea. Local use of mangroves is still limited to firewood collection. Coral reef ecosystems were also found in good condition, with only a few areas covered by sand.

Fishing activities predominantly target pelagic species rather than reef fish. Reef fish in Kepala Madan waters are generally reserved for household consumption or special events, and not sold commercially. This practice indirectly contribute to the abundance and diversity of reef fish and macrobenthos in the coral reef ecosystem. This is evidenced by the presence of species like Napoleon wrasse, bumphead parrotfish, schooling trevally, sea hares, octopuses, diverse gorgonians, and many others.

Observations also revealed that most coastal residents in Southern Buru earn their living as fishermen and farmers, combining fishing with gardening. In Kepala Madan, on the other hand, the primary livelihood is fishing—particularly tuna fishing using handlines and purse seine nets.

Buru Island is also one of the nesting sites for leatherback turtles. The proximity of Kepala Madan to the existing turtle conservation area in Buru makes it a potential nesting habitat. Considering the consumption of sea turtle eggs and meat, as well as the utilization of shells as accessories such as bracelets in Kepala Madan Sub-district, the establishment of protected areas is seen as the best approach to limit these activities. The data collected during the expedition recorded four turtle species inhabiting Buru Island: leatherback, green, hawksbill, and olive ridley turtles.

The journey of the Fisheries and Marine Science Expedition by FPIK IPB in Kepala Madan Sub-district, Southern Buru Regency, Buru Island, Maluku, Indonesia, has been documented in videos, scientific reports, journals, and disseminated at the International Seminar on Ocean Sciences and Sustainability 2024.