Exploitation, management and conservation of marine resources: the context of the Aru Tenggara Marine Reserve (Moluccas, Indonesia)

The establishment of the Aru Tenggara Marine Reserve (eastern Indonesia) is a new element in the traditional and present day use and management of the marine resources in the area. This article discusses the exploitation of that environment by different groups, including local people as well as various kinds of outsiders who are attracted to the extremely rich marine resources, including pearl oysters, sharks, turtles and shrimps. This poses particular problems for the actual implementation of the reserve, which is basically established for the conservation of the turtles and the dugongs. The conditions for the successful implementation are treated, paying particular attention to the role of the local population.