Gaining Marine Protected Area (MPA) Status has been a long-time goal for the landowners of Malau Lalo island in Makira-Ulawa Province. Chief of the Po’onapaina Tribe in Ulawa, Dennis Marita enforced a traditional chiefly order to conserve the islands marine environment after years of over-exploitation by illegal settlers.
The traditional order cordoned off sections of reef from fishing, banned the harvest of specific species such as sharks and turtles, and prohibited all fishing techniques except pole and line fishing. Several years after enforcing the order, Marita said that the community has made some progress.
“By 2013 we started to see a big change in the environment. You could see more fish and turtles swimming about, and stingrays by the shore. It was as if the island had come alive.”
