West Seram Regency


West Seram Regency is a regency of Maluku, Indonesia. It is mainly located on Seram, but includes various islands lying to the west of Seram - the largest being Manipa, Kelang and Buano, as well as the smaller islets of Babi, Pua, Masowoi, and Marsegu. It covers a land area of 6,948.40 km2, and had a population of 164,654 at the 2010 Census and 212,393 at the 2020 Census; the official estimate as at mid 2024 was 217,389. The principal town lies at Piru, a port at the northern coast of Latira Bay which is a northwards extension of Piru Bay and almost separates the Huamual Peninsula from the rest of Seram Island. The western sector of the Regency occupies just under 25% of the land area, but held over 42% of the Regency's population at the 2020 Census.

Administrative districts

At the time of the 2010 Census the regency was divided into four districts. Subsequent to 2010, seven additional districts have been created by the division of the original four districts, so that the regency is now divided into eleven districts. These are tabulated below with their areas and populations at the 2010 Census and 2020 Census, together with the official estimates as at mid 2024. The table also includes the locations of the district headquarters, as well as the number of administrative villages in each district, and its postal code.
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
81.06.04Huamual Belakang 409.6525,62933,13235,772Waesala797567
81.06.09Kepulauan Manipa
159.715,8107,1658,030Masawoi797569
81.06.08Huamual 1,162.9934,91949,09747,939Luhu597560
Totals of
Western sector
1,732.3566,35889,39491,73119
81.06.02Seram Barat
503.3327,31135,04535,851Piru7 97562
81.06.01Kairatu329.6523,24027,04026,882Kairatu797566
81.06.07Kairatu Barat
132.2513,14614,47814,147Kamal697568
81.06.06Inamosol 504.615,3116,4226,817Honitetu597565
81.06.05Amalatu 665.3510,97912,53713,177Latu797563
81.06.11Elpaputih 1,165.741,4535,2335,144Elpaputih797564
81.06.03Taniwel1,181.3212,13315,44816,219Taniwel1997559
81.06.10Taniwel Timur
733.805,3756,7967,481Uwen Pantai1597561
Totals of
Eastern sector
5,216.0598,948122,999125,64873
Totals6,948.40164,654212,393217,38992

Notes: Huamual Belakang District includes Buano and Kelang Islands, as well as Babi, Pua and 26 other small islands, as well as part of the 'mainland' of Seram. The district comprises the 7 towns and villages of Tahalupu, Sole and Tonu Jaya - all 3 on Kelang Island; Buano Selatan and Buano Utara - both on Buano Island; and Waesala and Allang Asaude in the northern part of the Huamual Peninsula on Seram Island.
Manipa Islands District consists of the main island of Manipa together with adjacent small islands; it was formerly part of Huamual Belakang District.
formerly part of Seram Barat District, this district comprises the southern part of the Huamual Peninsula; in the north it is now bordered by Huamual Belakang and Seram Barat Districts, in the south it is bordered by the Banda Sea, in the east it is bordered by the residual Seram Barat District, and in the west it is bordered by the Manipa Passage. The district comprises the 5 towns and villages - Luhu, Lokki, Iha, Ariate and Kulur.
includes the northeast part of the Huamual Peninsula as well as areas further east.
the 7 desa are Piru, Eti, Kawa, Kaibobo, Lumoli, Neniari and Morekau.
formerly parts of Kairatu District. formerly part of Taniwel District.

Nature Reserves

There are two major Nature Reserves within the regency. The Sahuwai Nature Reserve covers an area of 28,872 hectares within the Huamual Peninsula. Further to the northeast, the Pulau Marsegu DSK covers an area of 11,000 hectares; Marsegu Island has a very high diversity of marine resources, various types of birds and various vegetation diversity of trees; the results of research conducted in the eastern and western parts of Marsegu Island found 22 species of trees in the protected forest on Marsegu Island.