FISHING IN KOMODO RESERVATION

Combating destructive fishing practices in Komodo National Park
Komodo National Park (Figure 1) is located between the islands of Sumbawa and Flores in Indonesia. The park was established in 1980, and has a management unit with 88 staff. The park was declared a Man and Biosphere Reserve and a World Heritage Site in 1986.
KNP includes three major islands, Komodo, Rinca and Padar, and numerous smaller islands, together totalling 41 000 ha of land. KNP is famous as the habitat of the Komodo dragon, Varanus komodoensis, but it is also one of the richest areas for coral biodiversity in Indonesia, and has one of the richest fish faunas in the world with an estimated 1000 species. The park contains 132 000 ha of marine waters, with a high diversity of habitats including coral reefs, rocky shores, sea grass beds, sandy bays and mangroves.

There are presently some 2300 inhabitants living within the park, spread out over three settlements (Komodo, Rinca and Kerora). An estimated 15 000 people live in fishing villages directly surrounding the park. Park inhabitants mainly derive their income from a pelagic lift net ('bagan') fishery (95% of their yield comes from this geartype) which is targeting squid and small schooling pelagic fish.