Marine Protected Areas
Indonesian fishermen have visited the north Western Australian coast and around the islands and reefs of this coastline for almost three centuries. They have exploited a range of species including:
Trochus shells are used in the manufacture of buttons and ornaments and dried beche-de-mer and sharkfin are sought after food products throughout much of Asia. These products are traded through Indonesia into the wider Asian market.
Traditional fishers had no navigational equipment and many set a course from Indonesia using land marks. When some distance out to sea they sight Ashmore Reef reflected in the clouds. At Ashmore they replenished water from the fresh water wells and collected birds and eggs for food. From here they sailed to the islands and coastline further south.
Indonesian Fishing boat.
Captain Samuel Ashmore, Commander of the Hibernia, was the first European to discover the Reef on 11 June 1811. The nearby Hibernia Reef was named after his ship. During the 1850's, American whaling ships operated in the region and during the latter half of the nineteenth century West Island was mined for phosphate. This resulted in the removal of most of the topsoil from West Island and the impacts are still evident today.
From as early as 1952, scientists expressed concern that plants and birds of the islands of Ashmore Reef were at risk from over-harvesting by Indonesian fishers.
In November 1974, traditional Indonesian fishing practices in the region were formalised under a Memorandum of Understanding between the Governments of Australia and Indonesia. This MoU covers Scott Reefs, Seringapatam Reef, Browse Island, Ashmore Reef, Cartier Island and various submerged banks.
Under an agreement with Indonesia, traditional Indonesian fishers are still permitted to land on West Island to obtain water and shelter in the West Island lagoon.
Intermittent visits by commercial tourist vessels have been made to Ashmore. Due to the isolation of the area such commercial ventures are extremely expensive and tourism is not expected to increase greatly in the future.
Over the last few years Indonesia and Australia having being working cooperatively to improve the protection of biodiversity in the MoU Box and improve the livelihoods of the traditional Indonesian fishermen who access the MoU Box.