EVALUATION OF THE NATIONAL ACTION PLAN (NAP) FOR WHALE SHARK CONSERVATION 2021 – 2025 IN TERMS OF THE MANAGEMENT AND UTILIZATION OF WHALE SHARKS IN INDONESIA

• Main Author: Gatra, Phalita
• Format: Theses
• Language: Indonesia
• Online Access: https://digilib.itb.ac.id/gdl/view/84391
• Institution: Institut Teknologi Bandung

The whale shark (Rhincodon typus) is the largest fish, reaching up to 20 meters in length and weighing up to 20 tons. Currently, it is listed as vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and is included in Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). This species is frequently used as a tourist attraction in various locations in Indonesia, including Gorontalo, West Nusa Tenggara, East Kalimantan, Probolinggo, Papua, and West Papua. However, it has been identified that these activities can pose a threat to the whale shark's survival if not conducted with conservation principles. Additionally, the increasing international trade and dense maritime traffic pose new threats, such as collisions with large vessels and bycatch by fishing boats. Conservation efforts for marine species and their ecosystems are crucial, including maintaining ecological processes and preserving the relationships between species and their environments. The ecosystem's function has been recognized as a key factor in biodiversity, which can serve as a solution to climate change phenomena and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly Goal 14 (conserving and sustainably using marine resources for sustainable development). Furthermore, the Long-Term National Development Plan (RPJPN) 2025–2045 emphasizes social and ecological resilience, including creating a quality living environment, improving the quality and integrated management of marine and coastal ecosystems, and enhancing the effectiveness of marine conservation area management to achieve the conservation of Indonesia's biodiversity, which is expected to provide social and economic benefits for the current and future generations. In Indonesia, one of the policies governing whale shark conservation is the National Action Plan for Whale Shark Conservation 2021–2025 (RAN Hiu Paus 2021–2025) through the issuance of Decree of the Minister of Marine Affairs No. 16 of 2021. This plan serves as a guideline for whale shark conservation in Indonesia and aims to preserve and utilize the whale shark population and habitat according to conservation principles, including efforts to reduce threats to the species. However, challenges in implementing the RAN Hiu Paus 2021–2025 have been identified, including repetitive activities that do not meet the plan's objectives, technical guidance provided in locations not relevant to whale shark habitats, limited provincial-level action plans, and the lack of updates to indicators, which hinder the achievement of the plan's goals. This study evaluates the implementation of the RAN Hiu Paus 2021–2025 for the management and utilization of whale sharks in Indonesia using descriptive analysis based on Dunn's theory (2003) regarding public policy evaluation, which includes six criteria (efficiency, sufficiency, equity, responsiveness, appropriateness, and effectiveness). From these criteria, indicators were developed to measure the achievement of each criterion. It was found that the RAN Hiu Paus 2021–2025 has met three criteria: efficiency, equity, and appropriateness, but not the other three criteria: sufficiency, responsiveness, and effectiveness, which were caused by various challenges, including a focus on reactive measures rather than preventive measures, and difficulties in managing tourism activities due to the lack of restrictions on the number of tourists and vessels visiting whale shark locations. Furthermore, the protection of whale shark migration routes outside conservation areas has not been addressed concretely, including the limited involvement of the Ministry of Transportation in regulating maritime routes to prevent collisions with large vessels and whale sharks