Local authorities and fishermen in the Thousand Islands regency have been working hand-in-hand over the last couple of years to harmonize conservation efforts with business interests.Their efforts have borne significant change, particularly in the way the fishermen make a living while sustaining marine biodiversity.Before the islands were officially declared one of seven national marine parks in the country in 1995, they faced serious threats to more than 134 species of coral reefs and other endangered marine life, including the hawksbill turtle, the green turtle and the giant abalone.Thousand Islands National Marine Park head Joko Prihatno says the threats came from destruc-

tive fishing methods using explosives, and the large-scale plunder of living coral.“Business interests often run counter to efforts to save the environment, and so that’s why we’re trying to find common gro...