In conversation with: Prof. Charlie Heatubun (Head of BRIDA)

Written by Abraham Sianipar (ReShark Council)

On 27 May 2021, a high-level meeting in the capital city of Jakarta brought together local and regional agencies, including special staff to the President of the Republic of Indonesia, along with representatives from multiple departments of the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (KKP), as well as numerous non- governmental organizations, and members of the StAR Project Steering Committee. The day culminated in the signing of a governmental commitment to support the StAR Project.

Chairing this meeting was none other than Head of the West Papua Province Regional Research and Innovation Agency (BRIDA), Prof. Charlie Heatubun, along with then Governor of West Papua, Dominggus Mandacan. BRIDA has since served as the kingpin in the implementation of the StAR Project in Raja Ampat. We recently sat down with Prof. Heatubun to hear his thoughts on the progress of the StAR Project as well as his aspirations for the future.

Representatives from governmental agencies, NGOs and the StAR Project Steering Committee gather in Jakarta for a high-level meeting on 27 May 2021. Photo by Konservasi Indonesia.

What were your initial thoughts when you were first approached to collaborate on the StAR Project?

As a scientist, I always keep an open mind. When I was first introduced to the StAR Project, I was delighted. I felt that the team behind it had truly done their homework. I was confident that such an innovative project, which harnesses the breeding potential of public aquaria to restore depleted wild populations, would reap success in Raja Ampat’s waters. I felt it is our duty as government to play a leading role in the project’s implementation. I’m very grateful that from the beginning, Governor Mandacan was very supportive. His seriousness in turn solidified the governmental commitment for the StAR Project. As we look back at our progress today, we’re proud of how the StAR Project has successfully demonstrated a proof of concept, and can now serve as a model for other species conservation programs around the world.

How important is the StAR Project to you and the Papuan community in Raja Ampat?

From the very beginning, BRIDA was extremely sincere in leading the implementation of the StAR Project in Raja Ampat. According to the commitment made by the West Papua Provincial Government in the Manokwari Declaration, we endeavor to conserve 70% of land cover and 50% of our ocean. We’re also looking at the Ridge to Reef (R2R) approach through integrated land and seascape management within the Bird's Head Seascape. The StAR Project complements these conservation goals well. To me, it was evident that it would not only help our ocean, but also tangibly benefit the local community through sustainable tourism.

Raja Ampat has long been known as a premier diving destination. The StAR Project (and the zebra shark in particular) could further elevate Raja Ampat’s appeal among the diving community. Such an icon could be used to rally the public to protect nature, which in turn creates opportunities for the community.

When I give university lectures, I regularly mention that we humans tend to be rather anthropocentric. Advancements in technology have bred a certain arrogance and self- centeredness among us. But the truth is, humans are just another species on this planet and we could very well be driven to extinction too. With that in mind, we need to have a balanced perspective, as one of God’s creations, that our every action impacts the wider ecosystems.

Traditional adat communities have their own indigenous names for species they live in close proximity with. These species are not just living things. They each have their own cultural value. And so, each species that goes into extinction carries with it a great deal of loss for our civilization and culture. I’ve thus taken the StAR Project very seriously and remain committed to delivering the best results possible.

Prof. Charlie Heatubun (right) with then Governor of West Papua, Dominggus Mandacan (left). Photo by Konservasi Indonesia.

What is your favorite part of the StAR Project?

As a founding governmental partner of the project, we largely spearhead the administrative coordination behind-the- scenes. But I also like to get involved in the rigorous scientific aspects, which include field implementation and data analyses. Personally, I do enjoy just looking at the eggs and the hatchlings in the nursery and the sea pen. I’m even more excited when I witness their release into the wild.

From selecting shark parents with the right genetics and the daunting shipment process to ensuring the pups grow up well in the nurseries and the eventual release, so much goes into the project! I often see this as an art — navigating intricacies and complexities to achieve an end goal. It is indeed a balancing act, considering how many stakeholders are involved in the StAR Project, not to mention how it now comes under a larger ReShark umbrella. We are bound to continue bringing in more players and projects into the mix.

Regardless, we always strive to give our best and ensure things run smoothly, especially after Charlie (the first of two sharks to be released) was named after me, as an appreciation of my contributions. I was very proud of that but also couldn’t help feeling a small sense of worry. Once these young sharks are released, anything could happen to them. I do wish Charlie the best of luck in the wild! I was heartened by a recent observation of a young zebra shark in Wayag, of similar size to Charlie. That made me very excited! I sure hope it was him, and that the sharks we release are all thriving in the wild.

What about the StAR Project stands out to you, as compared to other multi- national collaborations?

From the outset, the StAR Project already stood out because of the sizable number of global partners involved. For me and BRIDA as a whole, this is perhaps the first collaboration focused on the conservation of a marine species. The zebra shark left an impression on me as it draws a sharp contrast to the otherwise scary image commonly associated with sharks. The zebra shark is actually quite shy and I knew it would be an iconic species for Raja Ampat. In Indonesian, we refer to the species as hiu belimbing, which translates into ‘starfruit shark’. People were initially confused as we refer to the leatherback turtle as penyu belimbing and there’s yet another shark named after starfruit.

The large number of partners involved also poses challenges. Inter-agency coordination at such a scale is tricky. This process has allowed us to learn a lot about the importing process, among other administrative procedures, that we were previously unaware of. I am indeed very grateful for the wonderful collaboration that underpins the StAR Project coalition’s work. I’m convinced we can truly be an inspiration for future collaborative projects of similar nature in other parts of the world.

Aquarists from RARCC gather at Wayag to bid farewell to Charlie before his release. Photo by Indo-Pacific Films.

How was the StAR Project initially perceived by other governmental agencies?

In the beginning, many people didn’t quite understand what the project entailed. But through constant communication and media engagement, we started receiving more recognition and appreciation from everyone, including national and provincial governmental agencies, as well as other local and regional partners.

While the current implementation site in Raja Ampat now falls under the jurisdiction of the newly-formed Southwest Papua Province, we remain proactive in coordinating the progress of the project with the new governmental agencies. Of course, they have been eager to contribute but are still unsure of how best to. My team and I are looking forward to further engagement with them. Even though the project site is no longer under the West Papua Province anymore, as a founding partner, we will still be committed to the StAR Project and perhaps future ReShark initiatives as well. The most important thing for us is to always continue prioritizing collaboration — that has been a fundamental part of the project since its inception which we hope will only grow from here on out.

The laborious process of building the nursery at RARCC led by the local Papuan team. Photo by Indo-Pacific Films.

How do you feel about the inclusivity of the project, specifically with regards to the involvement of the local Papuan community? How could we potentially do better in this area?

Considering that the StAR Project was implemented in Papua, we have made sure that the traditional adat communities and their leaders have been involved since the beginning. On top of that, we have also engaged the local youths, students, governmental agencies and other partners. I believe that every project in Papua will greatly benefit from having a local Papuan leading or at least heavily involved. Moving forward, the recruitment of shark aquarists and the various staff involved in population monitoring efforts should prioritize the Papuan community, including students from Papuan universities, especially the University of Papua (UNIPA). This is of paramount importance in ensuring we empower them and build up local capacity and knowledge through the project.

We also want to ensure sustainability — that the ideas, values, and stories we have gained are passed on in perpetuity. That requires selecting and training the right people, especially in the Papuan context. If we want to pass along our legacy to future generations, we need to prepare them as early as possible. I’ve shared about this in my lectures and also when talking to partners. I do believe that there is tremendous potential for the StAR Project or ReShark in general to explore or even provide scholarship opportunities for university students in Papua and have them directly involved in the project. The best place to start would be the Marine and Fisheries Faculty of UNIPA. Apart from the students, the university itself can also be a fantastic knowledge repository for the project. The array of knowledge and experiences gained could be made available for student learning, and perhaps even infused into their curriculum.

What are some key takeaways from the StAR Project that you could see being replicated in other projects?

There’s honestly plenty of positive takeaways we have gained from the StAR Project, including amazing standards set in areas like fundraising, scientific research and publications, permitting processes, and policy development. Many of these best practices are already being implemented in other collaborative projects we are currently leading as well, one of which is the Crown Jewel Papua. This project targets an integrative landscape management that focuses on watersheds as the main life support of the Papuan community. It similarly demands us to work closely with multiple provincial and sub-national governmental agencies, as well as conservation and development organizations.

I’m constantly impressed at how the StAR Project coalition has chosen the right people for their Steering Committee and everyone maintains such a positively collaborative spirit while showcasing their various expertise to drive the project forward. That’s something else I would like to replicate. Indeed, more collaborative species conservation initiatives are much- needed in West Papua, such as ones focused on the birds-of-paradise. We have an upcoming collaboration with Cornell University which will feature several Indonesian NGOs as well, so I’m looking forward to applying what we’ve learnt with the StAR Project there too.

During his visit to the RARCC nursery, Prof. Charlie Heatubun meets Charlie, the zebra shark, for the first time. Photo by Nesha Ichida.

As we look forward to the next ReShark project, what advice would you provide?

The most important thing is that everyone remains committed to the values of collaboration and partnership. It’s also essential that there be a clear division of responsibilities and duties among the various partners, especially for fellow governmental partners.

We as the government need to take the lead in such initiatives. It is only right that we lead the way and inspire confidence while our fellow partners have our back. Only so can we guarantee that such projects are implemented smoothly. For instance, several major StAR Project events would not have been possible if we, as the lead governmental institution, did not provide the necessary documentation.

That said, the government should also remain open to feedback and inputs on how to improve. We cannot be fixated solely on the material gains from such projects. Instead, our focus should always be about how we can contribute to the success of these initiatives. Admittedly, governmental agencies will have our own set of shortcomings. That’s where we will certainly benefit from our partners’ support. If we work together, we can achieve anything. We’ll always be more than happy to support our partners in the best way possible.

On a more philosophical note, I think that what we’re presently is really about creating a better future for our world. There’s a saying in West Papua – No matter what we’re doing right now, our duty is to leave our future generations with water springs (mata air) and not tears (air mata). We need to bequeath life to our children. Not only human life, but also natural treasures like biodiversity, healthy ecosystems and everything in between. All of these depend on the actions of today.

Moments before Charlie is released into Wayag by Program Manager Nesha Ichida, 13 January 2023. Photo by Indo-Pacific Films.

The full-length interview with Prof. Charlie Heatubun is also available for viewing on YouTube.