Now a national marine park covering the entire Waktobi District, it comprises 1.4 million hectares, of which 900,000 host tropical coral reefs.

[citation needed] It is the habitat of large and small fish species, dolphins, turtles and whales.

Most notable are the Bajo communities, seafaring nomads who inhabit many of Indonesia’s remote islands.

Located in the Asia-Pacific World Coral Triangle, in the province of Southeast Sulawesi, the Wakatobi Islands offer clear waters and a rich bio-diverse underwater life.

[5] These include Acropora formosa, Acropora hyacinthus, Psammocora profundasafla, Pavona cactus, Leptoseris yabei, Fungia molucensis, Lobophyllia robusta, Merulina ampliata, Platygyra versifora, Euphyllia glabrescens, Tubastraea frondes, Stylophora pistillata, Sarcophyton throchelliophorum, and Sinularia species.

[7] The Bajau people, in particular, rely heavily upon marine resources within the park for survival as a majority of the population are nomadic, subsistence-oriented fishers.

Some Bajau fishers utilize techniques such as fish bombing and coral mining; these methods detrimentally impact the reef.

[8] Wakatobi is a complex marine protected area that contains many zones which allow different levels of fishing and tourism.

Foreign tour operators directly pay local villages for exclusive access to no-take zones for tourism.

The boundaries for the leased areas are discussed between village councils and operators in the absence of Park officials and fishermen.

[10] Wakatobi has achieved some success in protecting coral reefs and increasing fish abundance compared to unprotected areas.

[9] This dependence on marine resources coupled with a rapidly growing population has resulted in high pressure on many fisheries.

[5] There is little participation and support from the local communities, resulting in many fishers ignoring the boundaries of the no-take zones.

[13] After the establishment of MPAs and NTA in Wakatobi, researchers have been recording the population status of fish and coral reef in the area.