Iqbal Herwata

Background

Iqbal Herwata (born April 20, 1992) is an Indonesian marine ecologist and species-based conservation specialist which graduate from Diponegoro University. In 2015, Iqbal and his organization (Misool Foundation) lead the community transition project In Lamakera – Indonesia to end the world’s biggest of manta ray fisheries. He leads the Marine Megafauna Research Group (MMRG) to provide strong scientific background that crucial for advising conservation policy and building community awareness throughout the Savu Sea.

Ocean Story

Iqbal grew up in Tasikmalaya which very close to the coastal areas of West Java. Interacting with fish and coral reefs makes his love for marine life grow. After graduated from senior high school, he decides to studying oceanography in Diponegoro University. He realizes to taking a part as scientist to draw up one by one the puzzles of Indonesian sea treasure that crucial for ensuring their sustainability.

For him, becoming a marine ecologist is his passion. Seems like a dream job for a lot of people spending time in the most beautiful places on earth. He loved to swim with manta rays, watch their dance show is his pleasure. But he also likes to spend hours on his computer just to monitor the oceanic phenomena that linked to the manta ray ecology (e.g. movement, distribution, and occurrence) through satellite oceanography.

Ocean Pride

As a marine scientist, I found that Indonesia’s marine life is spectacular. Indonesia waters is the center of global marine biodiversity, migration path for many large marine animals, and provide multiple habitats for many species. Billions people in the world depend on the health of Indonesia’s marine ecosystem; to support food security and many others ecosystem services. Let’s save the Indonesia’s marine ecosystem for us, them, and a healthy earth.