Teluk Cenderawasih
Location:
1°43' - 3°22'S, 134°06'-135°10'E; the southwest quadrant of Cenderawasih Bay, including all islands of the Kepulauan Auri and 510 km of mainland coast, Irian Jaya.
Area:
c.80,000 ha of coral reefs and beaches; 2,500 ha of islands.
Altitude:
Sea level.
Biogeographical Province:
5.1.13.
Wetland type:
01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07 & 11.
Description of site:
A large proposed marine reserve including many small islands (the Auri Islands), extensive coral reefs, some mangrove swamps and intertidal mudflats, and 510 km of sandy beaches on the mainland coast near the Wandammen and Arfak Mountains.
Climatic conditions:
Tropical maritime climate.
Principal vegetation:
Extensive beds of sea-grasses, some mangrove swamp and 1,898 ha of beach vegetation.
Land tenure:
Partly state owned and partly owned by the local people.
Conservation measures taken:
Anggremos Island is protected in a Game Reserve (Suaka Margasatwa) of 2,500 ha, established in 1981.
Conservation measures proposed:
The entire area has been proposed as a Game Reserve. Land use: Fishing and exploitation of corals.
Land use:
Fishing and exploitation of corals.
Possible Changes in Land use:
No information.
Disturbances and threats:
Collection of shells and black corals, dynamite fishing, development of port facilities, and an increase in the size of the fishing fleet operating out of Biak. The traditional fishing grounds of the local people are now being exploited by outsiders.
Economic and social values:
The bay is a nursery ground for many commercially important fishes, and supports a fishery of considerable importance to the local people.
Fauna:
The bay is noted for its rich coral reef fauna with a wide variety of fishes including the Clown Fish Amphiproi sp. Many sea-birds occur in the area, along with Haliaeetus leucogaster, Caloenas nicobarica and Ducula bicolor. There is a large population of Dugong Dugong dugon in the bay. Sea-turtles nest on the beaches, and the Estuarine Crocodile Crocodylus porosus is present. Invertebrates include giant clams, Trochus niloticus. Tridacna gigus and Charonia tritonis.
Special floral values:
No information.
Research and facilities:
Faunal surveys have been carried out.
References:
Diamond (1981); Gilkes & Adipati (1986); IUCN (in prep); Karpowicz (1985); MacKinnon & Artha (l981b); Petocz (1984).
Criteria for Inclusion:
1b, 2a, 2b, 2c.
Source:
Marcel J. Silvius.