An institutional analysis of sasi laut in Maluku, Indonesia

9.5 Conclusions

The ecological benefits of sasi in terms of coral reef health were not clear-cut. In Nolloth, there was no
detectable difference in the coral cover or butterfly fish diversity between the sasi and non-sasi areas.
When compared to the adjacent marine village territory of Ihamahu, however, it was seen that the
latter, which is less effectively guarded, was more scarred by blast fishing, more covered in coral
rubble and relatively lacking in soft corals. The most damaged reefs, in terms of the dead coral cover
and general absence of fish, were seen inside Tuhaha Bay and in front of Haruku and Sameth. Tuhaha
Bay and Haruku Strait are both relatively heavily populated, heavily exploited areas. In contrast,
reefs surveyed along the south shore of Ambon Island were in moderately good condition and
comparable to reefs along the eastern shore of Saparua Island. Both of these shores are relatively
isolated and thinly populated. Also, they are very wave-exposed during seasonal monsoons and thus
are allowed to “rest” for part of each year.

Both sasi and non-sasi villages suffer from blast fishing. Even when a kewang is present and motivated
to enforce the ban on this gear type (as in Haruku and Nolloth), that is not effective. Sasi areas are
also vulnerable to damage caused by external forces, as seen in Haruku where sedimentation from
recent mining exploration has damaged one area of coral.

Butterfly fish species, an indicator of coral diversity, were more abundant in the non-sasi areas (14-18
species) than in sasi areas (8-11 species). The lowest diversity, seen in Sameth, appeared to be correlated
with damage from blast fishing. Evidence of blast fishing on a lesser scale was also seen in Toisapu
and Hutumuri (non-sasi) as well as in Nolloth (sasi). Of the fish survey sites, only Seri and Airlow
were free from bomb craters. These also had the highest fish diversity.

Data from previous surveys around Saparua Island (Leonardo 1996) indicate that the average living
cover on reefs along the eastern shore is 42% hard corals and 26% soft corals. This suggests that the
sasi area in Nolloth, where the living cover of hard corals averages 31-50% and the cover by soft corals
averages 11-30%, is an “average” area compared to others on the same coast. Leonardo’s figures for
the north shore are 24% cover of hard corals and 37% of soft corals. Our data from inside Tuhaha Bay,
from in the protected marine territory of Itawaka, and from the unprotected territories of Nolloth, Iha
and Ihamahu, suggest an average of 11-30% hard corals and <10% soft corals. Compared to the
regional data, this is average for hard corals but below average in terms of the soft coral cover.

According to regional coral reef surveys (LIPI 1996), almost half of the reefs in central Maluku have a live
hard coral cover of less than 25%. Compared to this, the marine territories of Nolloth, Ihamahu, Itawaka,
Hutumuri, Lapaut and Toisapu are better than average for the region, whereas Haruku, Sameth, Seri, Iha
and Airlow have relatively less hard coral covers. Thus, in this limited data set, there is no convincing
correlation between marine sasi and coral reef protection. The reef condition seems more closely related to
relative population density and fishing pressure than to the presence or absence of the sasi institution.
More research into the condition of a larger number of guarded sasi areas would be useful.

Although not showing evidence of measurable habitat protection, surveys of sasi and non-sasi areas
did indicate that the local management has resulted in demonstrable benefits at least in protecting
two sessile species, top shells and sea cucumbers. Although there were suitable habitats in Hutumuri,
Toisapu, and Seri, and these non-sasi villages did historically exploit both resources, sea cucumbers
and top shells were extremely rare and absent, respectively. A poorly guarded sasi area subject to
poaching and blast fishing (Ihamahu) also had very few top shells and sea cucumbers. This suggests
these two resources may now be largely confined to sasi areas such as those of Nolloth, which are
subject to harvest restrictions and guarded. Because of the limits of the survey areas and methods,
it is also possible that deep-water refugia may exist for both species.

94 An Institutional Analysis of Sasi Laut in Maluku, Indonesia

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