Indonesia and MERMAID join forces to safeguard the future of the Coral Triangle

Amkieltiela
User Community Manager, MERMAID

The Republic of Indonesia is home to the most diverse coral reefs on Earth, with 590 coral species supporting approximately 5,000 coastal communities. To protect this vital heritage, the Indonesia Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (MMAF) has officially integrated and endorsed MERMAID as a primary data source for its national marine infrastructure.

A fundamental shift in monitoring

This collaboration integrates MERMAID’s long-term, high-quality datasets into SIDAKO, Indonesia’s official Marine Protected Area (MPA) database. This is not just a technical update; it represents a fundamental shift in how a nation monitors its natural capital.

"By integrating MERMAID’s long-term, high-quality coral reef datasets into SIDAKO, we ensure that our national system meets international standards for environmental information management," says Bapak Firdaus Agung, Director of Ecosystems Conservation Directorate (MMAF). "This partnership enhances the value of SIDAKO for planning and decision-making, reduces data gaps across our seascapes, and accelerates the delivery of reliable, science-based insights."

Before MERMAID: The fragmentation challenge

Managing 51,000 km² of coral heritage is a monumental task. Previously, monitoring was hindered by:

• Geographical blind spots: Many remote or inaccessible areas remained outside the reach of traditional survey organizations.

• The "painful" compilation process: A lack of standardized methods and data formats made gathering information a fragmented, manual ordeal.

Turning data into action

The scale of this integration is unprecedented. By leveraging MERMAID’s platform, the Indonesian government has unlocked:

• 87% data coverage: Currently, 87% of the benthic survey data within SIDAKO is generated via MERMAID.

• 23 years of context: Access to consistent records spanning from 2003 to the present.

• Real-time oversight: Daily automated API "pulls" ensure the national dashboard remains current without manual intervention.

• Enhanced evaluation: By overlaying MERMAID insights with MPA boundaries, the government can better evaluate management effectiveness (EVIKA).

The journey: Cross-continental collaboration

This achievement was the result of a dedicated effort that began when MERMAID was selected for a World Bank project. Following the 2025 Indonesia MPA and OECM Symposium, a cross-continental team (including members from the Ministry and the MERMAID technical team) worked through late-night sessions to bridge the platforms via API integration.

A growing ecosystem

In January 2026, MERMAID formally expanded its collaboration within the MMAF, partnering not only with the Directorate of Ecosystems Conservation but also with the Agency for Marine and Fisheries Extension and Human Resources Development.

In a historic signing ceremony, MERMAID joined a coalition of leading NGOs, including WWF Indonesia, CTC, YKAN, Rekam, RARE Indonesia, and EDF. This move solidifies MERMAID’s role as the "connective tissue" between field researchers, local communities, and national policy-makers.

A blueprint for global change

As the national custodian of coral reef and seagrass data, Indonesia shows how technology bridges the gap between local science and monitoring efforts and national Blue Economy policies that help conserve coral reefs.

This partnership serves as a powerful "proof of concept" for other governments in the Coral Triangle, and the world. It demonstrates that when governments and open-source platforms like MERMAID join forces, they don't just collect monitoring data; they create a data-driven roadmap for the future of coral reefs.