Raja Ampat's Guardians of the Sharks

THE 'guardian' of Jaam Island, part of a conservation zone where shark hunting is banned, lives in South Misool District, Raja Ampat Regency. His name is Andi Dharmawan, but he is better known by his nickname, Cagi, or Oom (uncle) Cagi. His skin is tawny from long hours in the sun, and he speaks with booming erudition.

Forty-one years old, he was born in Bone, South Sulawesi, but has been in West Papua since childhood. Jaam Island is in the Regional Waters Conservation Area (KKPD) of Southeast Misool, the largest conservation zone in Raja Ampat. The area covers 366,000 hectares, and includes a chain of ancient limestone islands and a well-preserved saltwater lake. A 10-kilometer radius from Jaam Island have been declared off-limits to fishing. It is known as a breeding ground for a variety of fish species.

June 16, 2015