Oceans 5 Gili Air and Its Role in Supporting the Gili Matra Marine Park
Supporting the Gili Matra Marine Park
Many people who visit the Gili Islands are unaware that they are entering one of Indonesia’s most important marine parks. Gili Air, together with Gili Meno and Gili Trawangan, is located within the Gili Matra Marine Park, officially designated by the Indonesian government as one of the country’s top ten marine conservation areas. Over the past decade, and especially since 2021, regulations governing marine parks like Gili Matra have become stricter. These rules are designed to protect coral reefs, marine life, and coastal ecosystems that are vital to both biodiversity and tourism.
Among the local stakeholders operating inside this protected area, Oceans 5 Gili Air has played an active and consistent role in supporting the marine park’s goals. Their involvement spans government partnerships, conservation initiatives, citizen science efforts, waste management support, and public education. This article provides an informational overview of how Oceans 5 contributes to the protection and management of the Gili Matra Marine Park.
Understanding the Marine Park Context
The Gili Matra Marine Park is managed under the authority of BKKPN Kupang (Balai Kawasan Konservasi Perairan Nasional), Indonesia’s National Marine Conservation Area Agency. In recent years, BKKPN Kupang has strengthened enforcement of environmental regulations across marine parks, including:
- The requirement that dive centers and water-based tourism operators obtain proper conservation permits.
- The collection and reporting of ecological data.
- The collection of marine park entry fees from divers and snorkelers.
- Collaboration with local stakeholders for research, waste management, and awareness programs.
While many tourists see the Gili Islands simply as a diving and holiday destination, the area is legally a protected marine ecosystem with conservation rules that apply to businesses and visitors alike.
Becoming a Licensed Conservation Partner
In 2022, Oceans 5 Gili Air became the first foreign investment company in Indonesia to receive a conservation permit, known as a SIUPKK (Surat Izin Usaha Pengelolaan Kawasan Konservasi). This addition to their business license formalized their status as an official partner of BKKPN Kupang.
Other dive centers on the Gili Islands have since followed the example, but only five of them currently maintain an active partnership with BKKPN for the 2025–2026 period. These selected businesses are expected to:
- Collect ecological data from dive sites.
- Report their findings regularly to BKKPN.
- Comply with marine park regulations in their operations.
- Participate in conservation-related initiatives when requested by the authorities.
Oceans 5’s conservation licensing reflects a long-term recognition of their involvement rather than a symbolic addition. Their partnership includes ongoing collaboration with monitoring and reporting programs.
Marine Park Fee Compliance
One of the most basic forms of support for the marine park is the collection of marine park fees from visitors. These fees are required for all divers and snorkelers, and they contribute to park management, enforcement, and conservation activities.
While not all businesses have consistently complied with this requirement, Oceans 5 Gili Air has been collecting and processing marine park fees for over seven years. This consistency ensures that funds reach the agencies responsible for protecting the marine area. It also normalizes the idea among visitors that their activities come with responsibilities toward the environment they are enjoying.
Weekly Beach Cleanups on Gili Air
Marine conservation on small islands is not limited to the sea. Waste that accumulates on the beaches can easily enter the water, especially during rainy or windy seasons. Since 2010, Oceans 5 has integrated cleanup activities into its operational culture.
Every Friday at 17:00, the dive center organizes a beach cleanup open to anyone on the island. Oceans 5 provides:
- Reusable or biodegradable bags
- Gloves
- Guidance and coordination
- A complimentary drink for volunteers
These weekly cleanups enable both visitors and locals to contribute directly to protecting the coastline. The initiative is self-funded and has run without sponsorship or donation dependence.
Harbor Reef Cleanups Underwater
Beyond beach litter, marine debris accumulates underwater, particularly in high-traffic areas like the harbor of Gili Air. Dumping from boats, mismanaged waste, and storm runoff can lead to plastic, metal, and other materials settling on the seabed.
Unlike the weekly beach cleanup, reef cleanups in the harbor are organized as needed, based on conditions and volunteer availability. These dives are typically more logistically demanding, requiring:
- Dive equipment and tanks
- Safety planning
- Coordination with boats or surface support
- Waste transport and sorting afterward
Interested divers can inquire at Oceans 5 to join upcoming reef cleanup dives. Although less frequent than beach cleanups, these underwater efforts play a crucial role in preventing long-term damage to seagrass beds, coral patches, and marine habitats in the harbor zone.
Partnerships with Indonesian Universities
A key part of long-term marine conservation is fostering the next generation of marine scientists. Oceans 5 Gili Air has established partnerships with three universities in Indonesia:
- Universitas Mataram
- Universitas Lampung
- Universitas Brawijaya
Through these partnerships, students receive practical field experience and support for their research projects. Oceans 5 provides:
- Boats for fieldwork
- Dive equipment and tanks
- Guides or instructors
- Transport where required
- Lunch during research days
Each semester, eight students join the program to conduct data collection around the Gili Islands. Starting in the coming years, the capacity will increase to 20 students per semester. The students and their universities select research topics, which often relate to coral health, biodiversity, and ecosystem monitoring.
This collaboration fills an important gap in accessible marine field research opportunities in Indonesia while contributing valuable data to conservation bodies.
Support for Global FinPrint and BRUV Research
The University of Mataram also participates in Global FinPrint, a worldwide research initiative that uses Baited Remote Underwater Video (BRUV) to monitor shark and ray populations. These species are key indicators of reef health.
Oceans 5 supports this partnership by:
- Assisting with logistics for BRUV deployment
- Facilitating access to specific dive sites for research
- Providing boats and equipment when needed
- Ensuring coordination with dive operations
Since reef predators typically face pressure from tourism, overfishing, and habitat degradation, the data collected through these projects is essential for assessing ecosystem dynamics in the Gili Matra Marine Park.
Collaboration with Gili Cares
Waste management is one of the biggest environmental challenges on small islands. Oceans 5 supports Gili Cares, a local company working to reduce and manage rubbish on Gili Air.
Their collaboration includes:
- Assisting with the introduction of a glass crusher to produce recycled glass bricks.
- Helping organize Gili Air Cleanup Day events.
- Supporting underwater cleanup efforts in the loading and waste transfer zones near the harbor.
Gili Cares focuses on improving waste systems and recycling practices, and Oceans 5 contributes through logistics, manpower, and promotion. These collaborations help build a cleaner and more responsible waste framework for the island.
Partnership with Marine Conservation Indonesia
In addition to working with universities and local waste initiatives, Oceans 5 collaborates with Marine Conservation Indonesia, an organization led by Indonesian marine scientists. Instead of routing conservation program revenue to international operators, this partnership ensures that funds from conservation-focused activities support the local community and locally driven research.
Marine Conservation Indonesia develops conservation programs such as coral monitoring, reef rehabilitation, and awareness workshops. Oceans 5 helps facilitate access, logistics, and outreach, supporting local ownership of conservation efforts.
Developing a Conservation Information Centre
Recognizing the need for public awareness and transparency, Oceans 5 is developing a Conservation Information Centre on Gili Air. The aim of this project is to provide a space where:
- Conservation-focused businesses can share their initiatives.
- Government departments such as BKKPN Kupang can present regulations and ongoing projects.
- Researchers and NGOs can explain their findings.
- Tourists can learn about the environmental context of the islands.
The information centre is intended to serve both visitors and the local community by highlighting why conservation is necessary and what actions are being taken. It is designed to foster collaboration and improve the visibility of environmental efforts that are often unnoticed by tourists and businesses.
The Broader Impact of Local Involvement
While the Gili Matra Marine Park is governed by national regulation, effective conservation depends on local actors who implement, monitor, and normalize environmental practices. Oceans 5 Gili Air is one of the businesses that has adopted this role beyond minimum compliance.
Their efforts span multiple areas:
- Policy compliance and licensing: Holding a SIUPKK and maintaining partnership with BKKPN.
- Data collection and reporting: Participating in monitoring for 2025–2026.
- Waste management and cleanup: Organizing weekly beach cleanups and periodic reef cleanups.
- Education and research: Hosting students and collaborating with universities.
- Scientific partnerships: Supporting Global FinPrint and BRUV studies.
- Local conservation initiatives: Backing Gili Cares and Marine Conservation Indonesia.
- Public awareness: Establishing a Conservation Information Centre.
These activities demonstrate a model of engagement where tourism businesses contribute actively to the protection of the ecosystems that sustain them.
Looking Ahead
With increasing pressure on marine environments due to tourism, development, and climate change, the role of local operators is becoming more critical. The conservation permit system and formal partnerships with BKKPN Kupang indicate a shift toward accountability.
Oceans 5 Gili Air’s initiatives reflect both compliance with government requirements and voluntary contributions that extend beyond them. As the marine park strengthens regulations, and as visitor numbers continue to demand resources, businesses that engage in conservation efforts will play an increasingly important role in safeguarding Gili Matra.
For tourists, students, researchers, and policymakers, understanding what happens behind the scenes is essential. In the case of Gili Air, Oceans 5 provides a practical example of how a dive center can integrate environmental responsibility into daily operations and long-term planning within a marine protected area.