An institutional analysis of sasi laut in Maluku, Indonesia

Chapter 9

Impact of Sasi on Inshore Fisheries Resources and Habitat in
Central Maluku

9.1 Marine Survey Results in Sasi and Non-Sasi Villages

A second part of the evaluation of the impact of sasi involved direct surveys of coral reef habitats
and resources in marine village territories of sasi and non-sasi villages. Surveys were conducted
in and near the sasi villages (i.e., Nolloth, Ihamahu, Itawaka on Saparua Island; Haruku and
Sameth on Haruku Island). In several cases (Nolloth, Itawaka and Haruku), guarded sasi areas
were investigated. The non-sasi areas of Nolloth, Haruku and Sameth marine village territories
and the sasi area of Ihamahu, which is not actively protected, were also surveyed. In addition,
coral reefs were investigated in non-sasi villages (Iha on Saparua Island, and Hutumuri, Lapaut,
Toisapu, Seri and Airlow on Ambon Island). Detailed survey information can be found in
Appendix 1. Maps of each surveyed area accompany the village case studies (Chapters 10-15).

9.2   Coral Reef Surveys in Sasi and Non-Sasi Areas
9.2.1 Saparua Island sites

There are no sasi rules applied to those portions of the marine village territories of Nolloth,
Iha and Ihamahu that lie inside Tuhaha Bay (Table 9.1 and Figure 12.1). These areas lie directly
in front of the villages. They have a less live coral cover and more dead corals and rubble
than the outer coast. There was no sign of healthy reef fish stocks.

Table 9.1. Survey of village territories inside and on the northern edge of Tuhaha Bay, indicating overall
average condition of the marine village territory directly in front of each village. Numbers refer to coral
cover categories, i.e., 0=no hard bottom for corals, 1=≤10% cover on hard bottom, 2=11-30%, 3=31-50%,
4=51-75%, 5=76-100%. Abundance indicators: 0=absent, —=rare, -=uncommon, +=common, ++=abundant,
+++=superabundant.

In Itawaka’s marine territory, sasi is applied (Tables 9.1 and 9.2), but there is, nevertheless, evidence
of past blast fishing. The northwestern part, bordering Tuhaha Bay, has less of a live coral cover than
the northeastern part, which lies on the outer coast. South of Itawaka’s marine territory is the part of
Nolloth’s main marine area which is not under sasi. The northern portion of Nolloth’s east coast
territory is devoid of living corals. The beach is covered in cobbles and the reef flat is exposed at low
tide, making coral survival unlikely. South of this is a stretch of narrow fringing reef lying close to
the shore. The coral cover here is on an average equal to that in the more southerly sasi area (Table
9.2). Fish are not abundant, but there are few dead corals or rubble, and no bomb craters are seen.
Nolloth’s eastern shore is a typical wave-exposed fringing reef, dominated by massive and soft corals.

88 An Institutional Analysis of Sasi Laut in Maluku, Indonesia

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