Talaud Islands Regency


The Talaud Islands Regency is a regency of North Sulawesi province, Indonesia. The Talaud Islands form an archipelago situated to the northeast of the Minahasa Peninsula, with a land area of 1,251.02 km2. It had a population of 83,434 at the 2010 Census, increasing to 94,521 at the 2020 Census; the official estimate as of mid-2024 was 98,300.
The largest island is Karakelong, on which lies the regency seat in the town of Melonguane. To its south lie the islands of Salibabu and Kabaruan, while the Nanusa group of 7 small islands lies to the northeast of Karakelong, and Miangas island is situated midway between Karakelong and the Philippines. It is one of the three regencies to the north of North Sulawesi that are located between Sulawesi and the Philippines, along with the Sitaro Islands Regency and Sangihe Islands Regency; originally these formed a single regency, but on 10 April 2002 this was split into separate regencies for the Sangihe Islands and for the Talaud Islands.
The island of Miangas is the most northerly in the regency and is widely regarded as the northernmost point of Indonesia. As a result, it is often referenced to describe the territorial integrity of Indonesia in various patriotic statements and songs together with Sabang, Merauke, and Rote Island.

History

The islands were known as Maleon, Sinduane, Tamarongge, Batunampato, and Tinonda. Human settlements in the region have been present since prehistoric times, as shown by several artifacts of hand axe and chopper from 6,000 BC. There were also remains of chinaware, suggesting there had been continuous trading activity between the natives of the islands and the outside world.
It was thought that inhabitants of the island originated from Southern Philippines especially Mindanao and also traders from Ternate.

Geography

Grouping Talaud with the Sangihe Islands and Sitaro regencies, there are 77 islands in the Talaud-Sangihe archipelagos, of which 56 are inhabited. Compared with the Sangihe archipelago, the islands are low-lying and forested, with hills rising to 2,231 feet. The coast of Karakelong Island is steep except on the southern shore, which is fringed by a wide reef.
The region is regularly rocked by large earthquakes and volcanic eruptions, as the Molucca Sea Plate is being consumed in both directions. A notable earthquake was the 2009 Talaud Islands earthquake, which was felt in the Philippines as well.

Governance

The Regency is divided into nineteen districts, tabulated below with their areas and their populations at the 2010 Census and 2020 Census, together with the official estimates as of mid-2024. The table also includes the locations of the district administrative centres, the number of administrative villages in each district, and its postcode.
Kode
Wilayah		Name of
District
Area
in
km2		Pop'n
Census
2010		Pop'n
Census
2020		Pop'n
estimate
mid 2024		Admin
Centre		No.
of
villages		Post
code
71.04.06Kabaruan66.035,4725,8606,000Mangaran1295873
71.04.09Damau 49.584,1274,5304,700Damau895872
Total Kabaruan
Island		115.619,59910,39010,70020
71.04.01Lirung31.116,1376,3306,300Lirung7 95875
71.04.11Salibabu21.805,5666,3306,600Salibabu695871
71.04.12Kalongan24.813,0603,4603,600Kalongan595874
71.04.17Moronge20.353,5053,8804,000Moronge695870
Total Salibabu
Island		98.0718,26820,00020,50024
71.04.07Melonguane77.3910,46311,92012,400Melonguane13 95885
71.04.16East Melonguane48.352,9643,7504,100Bowombaru695886
71.04.02Beo70.935,5215,9806,100Beo6 95876
71.04.14North Beo144.853,6094,3504,600Lobbo8 95881
71.04.18South Beo63.873,4753,9604,100Tarohan795877
71.04.03Rainis80.685,9597,1807,700Rainis1195880
71.04.10Tampan' Amma124.185,4976,4506,800Dapalan1195882
71.04.15Pulutan58.811,9532,3502,500Pulutan595878
71.04.04Essang94.763,3973,8704,000Essang895883
71.04.19South Essang75.023,1983,6803,800Sambuara995887
71.04.08Gemeh137.715,4706,4306,800Gemeh1595888
Total Karakelong
Island		976.5551,50659,92062,90099
71.04.05Nanusa 58.403,3333,4003,400Karatung995884
71.04.13Miangas2.39728810800Miangas195889
Total Regency1,251.0283,43494,52098,300153

Notes: including 3 kelurahan - Lirung, Lirung I and Lirung Matane. including 3 kelurahan - Melonguane, Melonguane Barat and Melonguane Timur.
including 3 kelurahan - Beo, Beo Barat and Beo Timur. including 2 kelurahan - Makatara and Makatara Timur. comprising the 7 Nanusa Islands.

Economy

Talaud Islands Regency is one of the outermost regions in Indonesia located in North Sulawesi Province, directly bordering the Philippines. Its strategic location provides great potential for economic growth, especially in the marine and fisheries sector. This potential is supported by abundant marine natural resources, ranging from capture fisheries, fish farming, to marine tourism.

Fishing

The fisheries sector is the main pillar of the Talaud economy, with the majority of the population working as fishermen. The Talaud Sea is rich in various types of fish such as tuna, skipjack, and reef fish.

Tourism

The Talaud Islands also have quite large tourism potential, especially marine tourism such as diving, snorkeling, and beach tourism. The beauty of the underwater world and the richness of marine life are the main attractions for domestic and international tourists. However, the lack of transportation facilities and tourism promotion are challenges that need to be overcome to encourage this sector as a source of regional income.

Agriculture

In addition to the maritime sector, the agricultural and plantation sectors also play an important role in the Talaud economy. Food crops such as coconut, corn, and bananas are the main commodities. Coconuts in particular are exported in the form of copra and coconut oil. However, challenges in this sector include climate change, access to modern agricultural technology, and inadequate infrastructure.

Demography

The population of the Talaud Islands was 97,312 according to the mid-2023 official estimates. The total population of the Talaud, Sangihe and Sitaro Islands combined was 310,809 in mid 2023.

Ethnicities

The population of the Talaud Islands Regency is mostly from the Talaud ethnic group, which is the indigenous ethnic group in this region. The Talaud ethnic group has a distinctive language and culture, with the Talaud language as a regional language that is still used in everyday life, especially in rural areas and in traditional activities. They have strong cultural ties, with various traditions and traditional ceremonies still practiced, such as harvest celebrations and sea rituals.
In addition to the Talaud ethnic group, there is also the presence of the Sangir ethnic group, who come from the Sangihe Islands, a neighboring region in North Sulawesi. The Sangir ethnic group has cultural and linguistic similarities with the Talaud, so that these two ethnic groups can live side by side in harmony. They are also involved in the same economic activities, such as agriculture and fisheries.
In addition to local ethnic groups, there are a number of immigrant tribes such as Minahasa, Bugis, Makassar, Javanese, as well as migrants from Ternate and Tidore. The presence of these immigrants is related to trade, transmigration, or work in the government and education sectors. Although their numbers are relatively small, their presence has enriched the ethnic diversity in the Talaud Islands Regency.
The regency also has historical ties with the Southern Philippines, especially the Mindanao region. During the colonial period, the Maluku Islands was known as the "Spice Islands," where various valuable spices such as cloves, nutmeg, and pepper were produced. Ships from the Philippines often stopped in Talaud to conduct trade these goods, as well as local seafood and agricultural products. Talaud served as an important stopping point for sailors to refuel and obtain supplies. Geographical proximity has led to long-standing interactions between the two regions, and although the number of migrants from the Philippines is insignificant, there are a number of Filipinos who have assimilated into the local Talaud population.