Police say the alleged spearfishing took place between Sept. 8 and 11 near a homestay in the Fam Islands, part of Raja Ampat. Videos and photos that spread online allegedly show a speargun aimed at a hawksbill turtle’s neck and the animal being cooked afterwards. Commissioner Jenny S.A. Hengkelare, spokesperson for the Southwest Papua Regional Police, said the footage allegedly depicts the hunt.

Raja Ampat’s waters host more than 1,600 reef‑fish species and over 550 coral species, making the archipelago the richest marine ecosystem on Earth. Hawksbill turtles, which live there, are listed as critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

The case is being prosecuted under Article 40A of Indonesia’s 2024 conservation law. That provision carries prison terms of three to 15 years and fines ranging from IDR200 million to IDR5 billion (about US$11,300‑282,000).

The detention matters because it shows how Indonesia can use social‑media evidence to enforce its strict wildlife‑protection rules, especially in a region where biodiversity is globally unique. It also signals to tourists and locals that harming endangered species will attract serious legal consequences.

By acting quickly, authorities aim to deter future illegal hunting and preserve the fragile marine life that draws divers, scientists and tourists to Raja Ampat.