https://komodotimes.com/Komodo Times reports on Komodo National Park, Labuan Bajo and Flores: conservation, marine life and diving, travel and access, the tourism economy, explainers and data.en© 2026 PT. Kabar Delapan Belashttps://komodotimes.com/assets/site/brand/icon-144.pnghttps://komodotimes.com/144144Sun, 20 Sep 2026 21:53:19 +0800 https://komodotimes.com/bmkg-flags-moderate-waves-in-southern-sape-strait-and-ntt-watershttps://komodotimes.com/bmkg-flags-moderate-waves-in-southern-sape-strait-and-ntt-watersSun, 20 Sep 2026 21:53:19 +0800Pandi MuktarMarine & DivingIndonesia’s meteorological agency has highlighted moderate wave conditions in the southern Sape Strait and nearby NTT waters, urging small vessels, fishermen and marine-tourism operators to follow official forecasts between 17 and 20… https://komodotimes.com/mawatu-takes-shape-as-12-hectare-mixed-use-project-in-labuan-bajohttps://komodotimes.com/mawatu-takes-shape-as-12-hectare-mixed-use-project-in-labuan-bajoSun, 20 Sep 2026 21:52:42 +0800Pandi MuktarMarine & DivingMawatu is being developed on 12 hectares at Batu Cermin in Labuan Bajo as an integrated mixed-use project with tourism, retail, culture, nature and maritime elements, according to reports published on 15 September 2026. https://komodotimes.com/ende-police-hand-three-suspects-to-prosecutors-in-boat-corruption-casehttps://komodotimes.com/ende-police-hand-three-suspects-to-prosecutors-in-boat-corruption-caseSun, 20 Sep 2026 21:52:15 +0800Pandi MuktarMarine & DivingPolice in Ende have handed three suspects and evidence to prosecutors in a corruption case over 25 ministry-funded fibreglass fishing boats, with alleged state losses put at about Rp6.45 billion. https://komodotimes.com/tourist-boats-km-aimar-and-budi-utama-collide-in-padar-straithttps://komodotimes.com/tourist-boats-km-aimar-and-budi-utama-collide-in-padar-straitSun, 20 Sep 2026 21:52:12 +0800Pandi MuktarMarine & DivingTwo Labuan Bajo tourist boats, KM AIMAR and KM Budi Utama, collided in the Padar Strait on 15 September 2026 while sailing toward Long Beach in Komodo National Park. https://komodotimes.com/virgo-transport-8-disaster-prompts-dpr-scrutiny-of-maritime-safetyhttps://komodotimes.com/virgo-transport-8-disaster-prompts-dpr-scrutiny-of-maritime-safetySun, 20 Sep 2026 21:51:54 +0800Pandi MuktarMarine & DivingIndonesia’s parliament is demanding tighter enforcement of maritime safety rules after the sinking of KMP Virgo Transport 8 in the Java Sea, but a proposed working committee to scrutinize port authorities nationwide has not yet been… https://komodotimes.com/tour-boat-kailana-runs-aground-near-gili-lawa-in-komodo-parkhttps://komodotimes.com/tour-boat-kailana-runs-aground-near-gili-lawa-in-komodo-parkSun, 20 Sep 2026 21:51:37 +0800Pandi MuktarMarine & DivingA tourist vessel named Kailana ran aground on a reef near Gili Lawa in Komodo National Park early on 12 September 2026, according to Indonesia’s Labuan Bajo port authority. https://komodotimes.com/bmkg-high-seas-alerts-ease-after-early-september-closures-near-komodohttps://komodotimes.com/bmkg-high-seas-alerts-ease-after-early-september-closures-near-komodoSun, 20 Sep 2026 21:51:33 +0800Pandi MuktarMarine & DivingIndonesia’s meteorological agency warned of high waves and strong winds around Labuan Bajo and Komodo National Park in early September 2026, but there is no independent confirmation of a specific 2.7-metre wave warning for the area on… https://komodotimes.com/ksop-labuan-bajo-suspends-komodo-and-padar-boat-trips-for-9-10-septemberhttps://komodotimes.com/ksop-labuan-bajo-suspends-komodo-and-padar-boat-trips-for-9-10-septemberSun, 20 Sep 2026 21:51:15 +0800Pandi MuktarMarine & DivingHarbourmaster and Port Authority (KSOP) Labuan Bajo halted tourist-boat permits to Komodo and Padar islands on 9–10 September 2026 after BMKG warned of 20–30 knot winds and waves up to three metres, while keeping Rinca sailings available. https://komodotimes.com/bnpb-flores-records-13156-earthquakes-between-15-august-and-7-septemberhttps://komodotimes.com/bnpb-flores-records-13156-earthquakes-between-15-august-and-7-septemberSun, 20 Sep 2026 21:51:00 +0800Pandi MuktarMarine & DivingIndonesia’s disaster agency says Flores recorded 13,156 earthquakes between 15 August and 7 September 2026, with activity starting to decline in the fourth week. https://komodotimes.com/mpmx-launches-500-seedling-coral-project-off-pulau-messahhttps://komodotimes.com/mpmx-launches-500-seedling-coral-project-off-pulau-messahSun, 20 Sep 2026 21:50:51 +0800Pandi MuktarMarine & DivingPT Mitra Pinasthika Mustika Tbk has inaugurated a four-year coral-transplantation programme in Desa Pasir Putih on Pulau Messah, Manggarai Barat, targeting 500 coral seedlings on 32 spider frames as part of its MPM Green Action 2026… https://komodotimes.com/basarnas-ends-15-day-search-for-missing-spaniard-in-padar-watershttps://komodotimes.com/basarnas-ends-15-day-search-for-missing-spaniard-in-padar-watersSun, 20 Sep 2026 21:48:22 +0800Pandi MuktarMarine & DivingBasarnas ended a 15-day search for the last missing Spanish national from the KM Putri Sakinah sinking in waters off Padar Island, according to Indonesian reports citing the rescue agency. https://komodotimes.com/bmkg-warns-cumulonimbus-clouds-can-trigger-sudden-winds-off-labuan-bajohttps://komodotimes.com/bmkg-warns-cumulonimbus-clouds-can-trigger-sudden-winds-off-labuan-bajoSun, 20 Sep 2026 21:48:15 +0800Pandi MuktarMarine & DivingIndonesia’s meteorological agency warns that fast-growing cumulonimbus clouds over Nusa Tenggara Timur waters can trigger sudden strong winds, heavier rain, lightning and brief increases in wave height, and urges small boat and… https://komodotimes.com/missing-bps-values-hinder-komodo-airport-tourism-analysishttps://komodotimes.com/missing-bps-values-hinder-komodo-airport-tourism-analysisSun, 20 Sep 2026 21:47:58 +0800Pandi MuktarMarine & DivingAn official BPS-Statistics Indonesia table confirms that Komodo Airport passenger movements are tracked monthly, but the extract available here lacks the numerical values needed for trend analysis or any verified link between air arrivals… https://komodotimes.com/manggarai-barat-study-sets-snapper-allowable-catch-at-725-tonneshttps://komodotimes.com/manggarai-barat-study-sets-snapper-allowable-catch-at-725-tonnesSun, 20 Sep 2026 21:47:42 +0800Pandi MuktarMarine & DivingA May 2024 fisheries paper in Jurnal Megaptera estimates Manggarai Barat snapper MSY at 906 tonnes a year and allowable catch at 725 tonnes, citing 100% utilisation in 2018-2019. https://komodotimes.com/three-flores-sar-emergencies-in-2023-highlight-boat-and-surf-safety-riskshttps://komodotimes.com/three-flores-sar-emergencies-in-2023-highlight-boat-and-surf-safety-risksSun, 20 Sep 2026 21:47:30 +0800Pandi MuktarMarine & DivingThree separate 2023 search and rescue operations in Sikka and Ende — engine failure at sea, a child swept from coastal rocks, and a passenger boat breakdown off Pulau Besar — highlight practical safety lessons for fishers, families and… https://komodotimes.com/wastehub-cleanup-removes-912-kilograms-of-waste-at-komodo-and-labuan-bajohttps://komodotimes.com/wastehub-cleanup-removes-912-kilograms-of-waste-at-komodo-and-labuan-bajoSun, 20 Sep 2026 21:47:28 +0800Pandi MuktarMarine & DivingIn June 2023, Waste Solution Hub and Oceanic Society coordinated underwater and beach cleanups around Labuan Bajo and Komodo National Park, mobilising 116 volunteers and removing about 912 kilograms of waste from coastal and marine sites. https://komodotimes.com/iwp-reports-89-waste-trips-in-labuan-bajo-area-in-2022https://komodotimes.com/iwp-reports-89-waste-trips-in-labuan-bajo-area-in-2022Sun, 20 Sep 2026 21:47:25 +0800Pandi MuktarMarine & DivingIWP said it carried out 89 waste-collection trips in 2022 across islands near Labuan Bajo, collecting 51,881 kilograms of material and sending recyclables for processing on Java. https://komodotimes.com/taka-and-wwf-indonesia-conduct-six-day-komodo-reef-health-surveyhttps://komodotimes.com/taka-and-wwf-indonesia-conduct-six-day-komodo-reef-health-surveySun, 20 Sep 2026 21:46:56 +0800Pandi MuktarMarine & DivingTAKA and WWF-Indonesia jointly implemented a six-day reef health monitoring survey in Komodo National Park, using benthic and reef fish sampling protocols to support science-based management of the protected marine area. https://komodotimes.com/why-labuan-bajos-tidal-currents-can-reverse-twice-dailyhttps://komodotimes.com/why-labuan-bajos-tidal-currents-can-reverse-twice-dailySun, 20 Sep 2026 21:46:42 +0800Pandi MuktarMarine & DivingResearch on the Sape Strait east of Labuan Bajo shows surface currents typically flow north on the rising tide and south on the falling tide, in a mixed semi-diurnal tidal regime. https://komodotimes.com/labuan-bajo-cleanups-recorded-2000754-kilograms-of-marine-debrishttps://komodotimes.com/labuan-bajo-cleanups-recorded-2000754-kilograms-of-marine-debrisSun, 20 Sep 2026 21:46:40 +0800Pandi MuktarMarine & DivingGovernment records show Labuan Bajo cleanups collected 19,000 kilograms of debris in 2017 and a further 1,007.54 kilograms in 2018, for a combined total of 20,007.54 kilograms.