Papua New Guinea launches major marine conservation initiative

Papua New Guinea is embarking on a groundbreaking initiative to protect its marine biodiversity, utilizing both cutting-edge technology and local knowledge to survey and conserve its ocean ecosystems.

Countless hours of scuba diving and deploying cameras thousands of meters deep are being utilized to help the government protect biodiversity, Caliber.Az reports, citing local media. 

Advanced technology combined with local expertise is assisting a team of scientists in Papua New Guinea in surveying the country's rich ocean ecosystems. They aim to provide the government with crucial data to enhance conservation efforts.  Papua New Guinea is located in the Coral Triangle, one of the most biologically diverse regions in the world’s oceans. This area is home to over 2,000 fish species, including many found nowhere else, and harbors 600 species of hard coral, boasting the highest concentration of clownfish diversity globally.  The three-month scientific expedition is a collaboration between National Geographic Pristine Seas, Papua New Guinea's Conservation and Environment Protection Authority (CEPA), and the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS).  “The Coral Triangle is a global marine biodiversity hotspot. It has more species of fish, corals, and other marine life than anywhere else in the world. It's the ocean's equivalent of a rainforest,” explains Dr. Alan Friedlander, the lead scientist for the National Geographic Pristine Seas expedition. 

Living and working aboard the Argo research vessel, the team spends their days conducting various activities such as counting seabirds, setting up deep-sea cameras capable of reaching depths of up to 6,000 meters, and diving to observe reef wildlife. The extensive dives often keep them underwater for the entire day.  “We’ve done some of the deepest camera deployments ever and discovered numerous fascinating new species for Papua New Guinea, including many deep-water sharks,” Friedlander says.  “On expeditions like this, we employ every available tool because we often have the advantage of access to the research vessel. Many of these areas have been scarcely studied, so we strive to conduct the most thorough research possible.” 

However, Papua New Guinea's biodiversity faces significant threats from overfishing, warming oceans, and pollution.  Jelta Wong, Papua New Guinea's Minister for Fisheries and Marine Resources, explains that the threats facing the country's oceans are "varied and interconnected—ranging from illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing to global warming."  Like many regions around the world, Papua New Guinea's corals have recently suffered due to extremely high ocean temperatures. A diverse fish population, which acts like "lawnmowers" on the reef, can help corals recover from bleaching events, but this recovery depends on protecting the existing biodiversity.  Certain large-scale fishing methods, specifically illegal, unregulated, and unreported practices, pose a threat to these fish populations. In addition, the presence of abandoned World War II ordinances means that highly destructive techniques like dynamite fishing are still used in Papua New Guinea. This practice is not only dangerous for the fishermen but also devastating for the habitat, often destroying it to the point where fish populations do not return. 

"Because many communities now rely on central markets and the monetization of these resources, sustainable fishing practices are often not maintained," explains Friedlander.  Not all fishing is harmful, however, as it provides both income and a crucial food source for local populations. Friedlander notes, though, that better management is needed to ensure sustainability.  Poor land-use practices also pose a significant threat. Runoff from local and large-scale agricultural activities, such as palm oil plantations, disrupts marine ecosystems. Sewage from cesspools and plastic pollution further degrade ocean health and damage reefs, adding to the pressures they already face.  Combining Local Knowledge with Advanced Research Methods The National Geographic Pristine Seas team always engages with local communities about their research before, during, and after their expeditions. 

“We've had community members on the boats with us every day, which is invaluable because they point out the areas they're most concerned about,” Friedlander says. These local voices are crucial as they are most affected by the health of marine resources and have the best knowledge of the area.  Friedlander also mentions that many local people involved in the project ask what they can do about climate change.  “I tell them that climate change is a global issue that Papua New Guinea did not cause. The responsibility lies with the countries that did and their governments to mitigate it," he says.  However, he adds that while many solutions are beyond their control, locals can still make a difference by taking care of their immediate environment to help slow the effects of climate change. 

“A lot of the management strategies we use today were developed thousands of years ago by the islanders,” Friedlander notes.  He highlights Indigenous marine protected areas (MPAs) across the Pacific Ocean, which, while historically almost spiritual sites, play a crucial role in preserving marine life. He recalls visiting one such area off the coast of Maschu Island in the north of the country, learning about its importance in the grouper's lifecycle.  “Groupers only gather around either the new moon or the full moon for just a couple of months each year,” he explains.  “These groupers travel from kilometers away to this specific location, despite typically being solitary animals,” he explains. Because they congregate at a predictable spot during their breeding season, and due to their focus on reproduction, their populations have been severely affected by overfishing.

Groupers can live up to 60 years, and their numbers take a long time to recover once they are removed from the reef. For decades, local communities have been safeguarding this crucial breeding site, recognizing that undisturbed breeding is essential for the species' survival. How Ocean Research Supports Conservation Efforts In this largely unexplored region, comprehensive scientific data is crucial for effective marine resource management. In November 2023, Papua New Guinea significantly expanded its ocean protection by establishing nearly 17,000 square kilometers of provincially-protected marine protected areas (MPAs) within its Lovongai and Murat jurisdictions. This initiative resulted from collaboration between local communities and the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS).

Over 9,000 individuals from more than 100 Indigenous communities participated in the consultations. These MPAs include some of the first measures globally aimed at safeguarding the most endangered sharks and rays. “The provincial government, working with the Wildlife Conservation Society, has been developing proposals for large marine protected areas,” Friedlander notes. “Within these, there are also local community-protected areas. While extensive community consultations helped establish these large protected areas, there was initially a lack of detailed biological information.”