Ocean Protection Works - Misool Is a Model

In the spring of 2019, my husband, John Jeppson, and I visited the fabulous Misool Eco Resort, in the Raja Ampat Islands of Indonesia. The reefs were gorgeous and healthy in the huge 300,000 acre marine protected area–roughly the size of all 5 boroughs of New York City combined.

WildAid has been a partner with the Misool Foundation for years, along with Conservation International, The Nature Conservancy and many other superb NGOs. The conservation results are powerful - 250% average increase in fish and wildlife abundance (aka biomass) inside the reserve over a 6-year period. There are 25 times more sharks on Misool’s reefs than there were 10 years ago — and far more mantas, too. Bravo!

It was thrilling to be diving again. This reef was a forest of gorgonian sea fan corals. Imagine this duplicated hundreds of times in shades of purple, pink, blue, orange, green (some muted and some brilliant). Spectacular beauty is back in Misool, because of effective marine enforcement and protection.