CORAL REEF DAMAGE IN RAJA AMPAT: INTERNATIONAL LEGAL PROTECTION OF REEFS CORAL

Authors
  • Karlina Lestari

    Universitas Wijaya Kusuma Surabaya
    Author
  • Eka Nurhidayati

    University Wijaya Kusuma Surabaya
    Author
  • Ruben Kafelkai

    University Wijaya Kusuma Surabaya
    Author
  • Rangga Ilham Wijaya Pratama

    University Wijaya Kusuma Surabaya
    Author
  • Ferdyansyah Dwiangga Syaifudin

    University Wijaya Kusuma Surabaya
    Author
  • Masitha Tismananda Kumala

    University Wijaya Kusuma Surabaya
    Author
Keywords:
Keywords: UNCLOS 1982, legal protection, coral reefs, Raja Ampat, international maritime law.
Abstract

Coral reefs are one of the biological resources originating from the sea which play a very important role in maintaining the balance of coastal ecosystems and supporting the economic sustainability of the community. beach. Indonesia is country archipelago with line beach The second longest in the world, which has a major responsibility to protect this ecosystem. In the context of international law, the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) provides a legal basis for coastal states to regulate, conserve, and restore the marine environment, including coral reefs, as stipulated in Articles 192–194. This study aims to analyze the form of coral reef protection according to the provisions of the 1982 UNCLOS, assess its implementation in Indonesian national law, and examine the government's responsibility in the case of coral reef damage in Raja Ampat. The research methods used are normative and empirical juridical, with a legislative, conceptual, and case study approach. The results of the study indicate that the obligation to protect the marine environment is erga omnes, binding on all countries without exception. Indonesia has ratified UNCLOS through Law Number 17 of 1985, and supplemented it with national regulations such as Law Number 32 of 2009 concerning Environmental Protection and Management, as well as PP Number 60 Year 2007 about Conservation Source Power Fish. Although Normatively, the legal instruments are strong, but their implementation still faces challenges. matter coordination inter-agency, limitations source Power man, as well as Weak field supervision. The case of coral reef damage by the cruise ship MV Caledonian Sky in King Ampat year 2017 become reflection weakness system law enforcement environment sea Indonesia. Effort settlement change make a loss Which No optimal The study reveals gaps in cross-jurisdictional legal liability mechanisms. The study's recommendations include strengthening maritime law enforcement through strict liability mechanisms, expanding marine conservation areas, and utilizing drone-based monitoring technology and underwater photogrammetry to support scientific evidence in law enforcement.

Author Biographies
  1. Eka Nurhidayati, University Wijaya Kusuma Surabaya

    Faculty Law, University Wijaya Kusuma Surabaya, Indonesia

  2. Ruben Kafelkai, University Wijaya Kusuma Surabaya

    Faculty Law, University Wijaya Kusuma Surabaya, Indonesia

  3. Rangga Ilham Wijaya Pratama, University Wijaya Kusuma Surabaya

    Faculty Law, University Wijaya Kusuma Surabaya, Indonesia

  4. Ferdyansyah Dwiangga Syaifudin, University Wijaya Kusuma Surabaya

    Faculty Law, University Wijaya Kusuma Surabaya, Indonesia

  5. Masitha Tismananda Kumala, University Wijaya Kusuma Surabaya

    Faculty Law, University Wijaya Kusuma Surabaya, Indonesia

References

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[2] MT Kumala, D. Sunyowati, E. Narwati, and RT Vinata, “The Philosophical Basis of the Authority of Coastal States to Manage Natural Resources in Their Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ),” Transactions on Maritime Science , vol. 12, no. 1, 2023.

[3] M. Muharuddin and W. A. Hidaya, "Responsibility Government Area against Damage reef Coral in Regency King "Ampat," Justice , vol. 6, no. 2, pp. 64–76, 2020.

[4] DOD Putra, “Utilization and Legal Protection of Marine Reef Resources Coral in Indonesia," Al-Zayn: Journal Knowledge Social & Law , vol. 3, no. 4, pp. 3960–3970, 2025.

[5] R. T. Vinata and M. T. Kumala, “Joint Security Efforts to Combat IUU Fishing in the Waters of Indonesia,” Lex Portus , vol. 9, pp. 36–50, 2023.

[6] S. W. Arya, D. P. Mark, and M. Ali, “Law Enforcement on Coral Reef Protection in Raja Ampat Regency,” Justitia Jurnal Hukum , vol. 8, no. 1, 2024.

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[8] B. E. Torano, “Review Juridical Protection And Management reef Coral in Indonesia According to Law Sea International," Lex Administration , vol. 9, No. 7, 2021.

[9] M. Contini, V. Illien, J. Barde, S. Poulain, S. Bernard, A. Joly, and S. Bonhommeau, “From Underwater to Drone: A Novel Multi-Scale Knowledge Distillation Approach for Coral Reef Monitoring,” Ecological Informatics , art. 103149, 2025.

[10] V. Gospodinova and A. Kirov, “Underwater Photogrammetry,” IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science , vol. 1427, no. 1, p. 012006, 2024.

[11] Vinata, Ria Tri, Masitha Tismananda Kumala, Peni Jati Setyowati. (2020). “ Marine Biodiversity Joint Exploitation Agreement in the Border Area of the Continental Shelf between Coastal States ”, in Proceedings of the 2nd International Conference on Science, Technology, and Environment ( ICoSTE 2020) - Green Technology and Science to Face a New Century, pages 153-156

[12] Kumala, Masitha Tismananda. (2023). “ Fishermen’s Human Rights Protection and Sustainable Development in the Indonesian Marine Sector ". Lex Portus, Vol. 9. Issue 4. P.16-27. DOI 10.26886/2524-101X.9.4.2023.2

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Published
2025-11-14
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Articles

How to Cite

CORAL REEF DAMAGE IN RAJA AMPAT: INTERNATIONAL LEGAL PROTECTION OF REEFS CORAL. (2025). Causa: Jurnal Hukum Dan Kewarganegaraan, 16(1), 1011-1020. https://cibjournal.com/index.php/causa/article/view/1468

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