An institutional analysis of sasi laut in Maluku, Indonesia

Collective-choice rules under sasi determine what types of activities may be controlled in the
village, define a process and confer authority on certain leaders to resolve land and resource
disputes. These rules also define the structure of marine sasi as an institution that regulates
access and withdrawal rights in the marine sasi area. Examples of collective-choice rules are
that the responsibility for patrolling the sasi area lies with the kewang, or that sanctions for
stealing sasi resources are applied by the village head and the police.

Various sets of operational sasi regulations control the harvest of certain commercially important
marine resources and terrestrial crops. These operational sasi rules are written down.

Harvesting is only allowed during the open season (buka sasi). Coconuts, for example, are harvested
every three months for one week. The season is usually opened before Christmas so that people
have money and food for the celebrations. Operational rules like these are not static and if no longer
appropriate, they can be changed. Sasi on young pineapples, for example, is no longer enforced.

Under marine sasi the harvest of marine products, e.g., top shells and sea cucumbers, is
regulated by the proclamation of operational rules (Table 10.4). During the closed season,
access rights and rights of withdrawal are materialized through prohibitions on entering into
the sasi area and on the use of certain fishing techniques. Evidently, the rights of withdrawal
are restricted to the winner of the auction (KUD) and its assigned helpers. Common villagers
cannot enter the area and partake in the harvest unless they are hired by the KUD. Outside
the sasi area, harvest rights are sold on a regular basis, primarily to Butonese fishers.

Some rules are rather specific. The harvest of corals and large rocks is limited to what is
needed to build a house, with a maximum of 2 m_ per person. However, even though most
people know that these rules exist, there may be confusion over exactly where the rules are
applicable. Some rules are embedded in formal government rules. For example, for larger
amounts of corals, according to the village government, a permit from the sub-district level is
required. However, when asked about coral harvesting, the sub-district office declared that
they would never grant a permit because officially, it is prohibited to harvest any coral at all.

Table 10.3. Products whose harvest times are determined under land sasi.

Land sasi operational rules

During closed sasi, it is prohibited to:

• Harvest coconuts (kelapa), pineapples, mangoes, durian, jackfruit,
bananas, nutmegs, areca nuts, and kanari nuts.

• Cut sugar palm and cut sago leaves for roof construction.

• Cut fruit trees and harvest young fruits.

Table 10.4. Operational rules on marine products.

Marine sasi operational rules

During closed sasi, it is prohibited to:

• Harvest sea cucumbers, top shells (Trochus niloticus), Turbo spp., and caping-caping shells in the sasi area.

• Swim in the sasi area except at the harvesting period.

• Use gill nets and poisons in the sasi area at any time.