Lesser Sunda Seascape, covers approximately 358,000 km2 of area spanning across the shared waters around Ombai Strait in Indonesia and Timor Leste, is one of the priority sites within the Coral Triangle region as part of the CTI-CFF (Coral Triangle Initiative on Coral Reefs, Fisheries and Food Security). Connecting the Indian and Pacific Ocean, this location serves as an important migratory corridor and is also home to many protected species including cetaceans such as pygmy blue whales and whale sharks, as well as commercially valuable pelagic fish. 

With the aim to facilitate integrated and sustainable marine resources management between the two countries, Konservasi Indonesia through SOMACORE (Solutions for Marine and Coastal Resilience in Coral Triangle) Project introduced Science Hub – a scientific collaborative platform between universities with marine and fisheries expertises in Indonesia and Timor Leste to support the development of studies and policies for the protection and conservation of marine megafauna in the Lesser Sunda Seascape.  

Since February 2025, Science Hub has engaged over 100 students and academics through public lectures at Universitas Tribuana Kalabahi Alor and Universitas Pattimura, focusing on transnational management and conservation. Additionally, focus group discussions were held at universities in East Nusa Tenggara to refine its governance model.   

The platform also aligns with the CTI-CFF’s University Partnership initiative, fostering science-based research and policy collaboration to bridge academic and conservation efforts, ensuring the sustainability of this vital ecosystem.