Derawan Archipelago
Indonesia · East Kalimantan
Derawan is one of the only places on Earth where reef manta rays are resident year-round. The Marine Megafauna Foundation has identified 155 individual mantas here — and 24 percent of the females have been observed pregnant, the only site in East Borneo where this is documented. With 500 plus coral species and 800 plus reef fish species the archipelago sits in the highest-diversity marine zone on the planet. The 285,549 hectare Berau MPA was declared in 2016 and active enforcement patrols with radar monitoring began in 2023.
Reef condition
Live coral covers 33% of this reef. The water is warmer than usual right now, so expect some pale coral.
Coral cover over time
Live coral covers 33% of the reef as of 2023. Up from 32% in 2003.
Heat right now
Warmer than usual
No bleaching yet
Fishing
Limited
Some fishing allowed in zones
Reef state
Under pressure
A reef in transition
Gear