RRI.CO.ID, Mataram - The West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) provincial administration has officially designated Saleh Bay as a protected conservation area to prioritize long-term ecological health over short-term commercial gain. The policy aims to cement the region’s status as a sanctuary for marine biodiversity, specifically focusing on the protection of the world’s largest fish, the whale shark (Rhincodon typus).

The legal framework for this initiative is established under Gubernatorial Decree No. 100.3.3.1-196/2026. This decree designates Saleh Bay as a reserved conservation area and a protected habitat for whale sharks.

Spokesperson for the NTB Provincial Administration, Ahsanul Khalik said that this designation marks a fundamental shift in regional development. "The determination marks a change in the development approach where conservation areas are placed as the main foundation, while economic and tourism activities will follow the limits set by the environmental carrying capacity," Ahsanul explained in Mataram on Thursday, May 7, 2026, as quoted by Antara.

Spanning a vast 73,165 hectares, the newly protected zone is categorized as a species-based conservation park with boundaries specifically designed to safeguard the vital life cycles of whale sharks. These protections include securing the feeding grounds in nutrient-rich waters where these gentle giants regularly congregate.

Furthermore, the decree ensures the safety of nursery areas to provide secure spaces for younger individuals to grow, while also maintaining the migration corridors necessary for their natural movement throughout the year.

The provincial administration is sending a clear signal to developers and investors: sustainability is non-negotiable. Under the new decree, all future development plans and feasibility studies for tourism must align with established conservation principles.

"Feasibility studies must follow the direction of conservation policy, not the other way around," Ahsanul, who is popularly known as Aka, emphasized.

He further noted that Saleh Bay’s global competitiveness lies in its pristine state. "Saleh Bay is not built on exploitation, but on the protection of its ecosystem. That is where the competitiveness and sustainability of this region lie," he added. ***