Written by Allie Sifrit

Hello all!

My name is Allie Sifrit and I am just starting my second year at SMEA! However, I will actually be in Indonesia for the beginning of the school year! I am currently collecting data for my thesis. My research is on the stakeholder perceptions of compliance to marine protected area regulations in Maluku, Indonesia. I am working alongside a project from USAID called the Sustainable Ecosystems Advanced Project and the director of this project is one of SMEA’s affiliate faculty members: Dr. Alan White. This is a 5 year partnership between USAID, the Indonesian government, and various non-governmental agencies working on improving fisheries and marine protected area regulations and management.

My research involves interviewing people from SEA Project, WWF Indonesia, Coral Triangle Center, Indonesian government and local residents about compliance to marine protected area regulations. It is my hope that this research will inform those working with SEA Project about the status of compliance in two marine protected areas and provide managers with stakeholder-based suggestions for improving management.

I recently returned from my first site visit data collection trip. I traveled from Ambon, Maluku to Gorom, Maluku. It was about a two day journey that involved two ferry rides and a long drive through the aptly named SS Mountains. Once I arrived in Gorom I was greeted by the WWF staff members there that are working on Koon MPA. We traveled around to various small villages around Gorom Island to interview with fishers, farmers, fish brokers, teachers, and even a couple village leaders! We also tried to go to Grogos, another small island that is located closer to Koon MPA, but the boat engine failed and we only made it to Koon Island. Luckily, cell service was strong enough to call for help on Grogos. The fishers and MPA enforcement officers that came to help us also became respondents in my research. On the last day of my time in Gorom, I visited one of the English classes at the local high school. The teacher asked me to come to help his students practice English and gain motivation to study harder. Each student introduced themselves and asked me a couple of questions, and then we took a bunch of selfies! It was really rewarding to spend time in the community, especially since the people of Gorom are incredibly friendly people.

I am now in the middle of data analysis and planning my visit to my second site in the Banda Islands.