Derawan Islands feature 872 species of reef fishes, 507 species of coral

Derawan Islands

The Derawan Islands are in the province of East Kalimantan in Indonesia. They include Derawan, Sangalaki, Kakaban, Maratua, Panjang, and Samama Island and submerged reefs and islets. They are located in the Sulawesi Sea, on the coastal shelf of East Kalimantan (2x17'N - 118x13'E).
Located in a biodiversity hotspot, the Derawan Islands feature 872 species of reef fishes, 507 species of coral, and invertebrates, including protected species. Some of the islands harbor the heavily exploited turtle eggs and yet the largest green turtle nesting site in Indonesia.
There are two inhabited islands, namely Derawan and Maratua (4 villages of 2,704 people). Fishing is an important income-generating activity for the community. Since the early 1990s, people have caught live groupers, napoleon wrasse, and lobsters, to fill high demand. There are 3 dive resorts on Derawan Islands, while more additional resorts or facilities are in the planning process.

Since 2011, Berau Coal save the coral reefs of

Diving Club has helped WWF to Derawan Island.

To boost tourism, local government will built airport and seaport at Maratua Island and both predicted to operate in 2013. World Wildlife Fund and environmental activists are opposing it due to the construction of the projects will surely affect the turtle habitat and coral reefs on Maratua Island, but the local government apparently focuses more on development projects instead of conservation.

Related Sites for Derawan Islands

• Derawan Islands | TripAdvisor.com read Derawan Islands
• Derawan Island - Derawan Dive Resort read Derawan Islands
• Derawan Ocean Dive - Islands read Derawan Islands
• Derawan Islands - Tourism Destination read Derawan Islands