Misool Marine Reserve is located in the remote southern reaches of the Indonesian archipelago Raja Ampat. Established in 2005, The reserve encompasses a 300,000-acre protected area inside which all extractive practices are prohibited. No fishing, collecting turtle eggs, reef bombing, cyanide fishing, netting or shark finning are legally permitted, all activities that have proven to be highly damaging in other parts of Indonesia. A recent scientific survey, conducted between 2007 and 2013, showed an increase in fish biomass of 250% on average. On some key sites, recovery surpassed 600% – an incredible story of how the ocean's ecosystems can heal once they've been fully protected and left alone to recover.
