10.4.3 The harvest
In the past, sasi on top shells was opened every three years and all villagers who wanted to
could participate in the harvest. Top shells were valued as a food source. In the late 1960s, top
shells became a commercially interesting commodity and in 1968, the harvest was brought
under government control. Later in 1978, the village government, with the consent of the
people, decided to sell the right to the sasi harvest to outsiders in order support the village
administration. The result was that common villagers saw their rights of access and extraction
being exchanged for a system where they would only get indirect benefits.
Profits from the sale of top shells and sea cucumbers were attractive. However, during the
1980s, the former village head opened sasi every six months. The result was that the harvest
dropped dramatically from 1,200 kg in 1988, to only 50 kg in 1994 (Evans et al. 1997). Now,
with the new village head, they are back to a longer closed season (approximately two years).
Sasi was closed throughout 1995 and opened near the end of 1996, and again, in January 1998.
Formerly, the right to harvest in the sasi area was sold to the highest bidder. This could be an
outsider (e.g., Chinese traders from Ambon) or a local who hired clan members and friends
to dive for the top shells. It also happened that a villager was “sponsored” by a Chinese
trader to buy the rights. Common villagers without connections were excluded from the
harvest. However, resistance against this style of business grew and the villagers objected to
the sale of harvest rights to outsiders. To have more control over the harvest and more benefits
for the villagers, in 1995 after his installation, village head Huliselan decided to arrange the
harvest and sale of top shells through the village cooperative (KUD).
The harvesting is done by selected KUD members (skin divers). In 1998, they received Rp5,000
per kg of shells, which is about a third of the final sale price. Once the harvesters and other
expenses have been paid, the profits are split evenly between the village government and the
KUD. The village head will then contribute a part to the church and the kewang. The money
for the village treasury is meant to be redistributed as the benefits to the village population in
the form of development projects.
The total revenues from marine sasi can be considerable. The price per kilo (3-5 large shells)
in 1996 was Rp14,000 (USD6, 1996 rate) and in 1997, Rp17,000 (USD7, early 1997 rate). Before
the currency crisis, that meant that a 1,000 kg harvest could yield about Rp14 million or up to
USD6,000 gross returns. In January 1998, sasi was officially opened again. The total catch of
460 kg top shells and 67 kg sea cucumbers was larger than in former years, but lower than
expected. Previously, the divers had calculated that a harvest of over a 1,000 kg was feasible,
but when they entered the shallow waters, most of the large shells were gone. Villagers believe
the top shells were probably stolen during the Christmas activities in the village. The catch
was sold for Rp19,500/kg for the high quality shells (300 kg) and Rp9,500/kg for the rest. The
total yield was approximately Rp7.3 million, which at the then current exchange rate (1998)
was only USD730.
Since trade in sea cucumbers has proven lucrative, the village head is studying the feasibility of
sea cucumber culture at Tinauw in the sasi area. The villagers plan to have a holding area of
stakes, planks and nets, feed the young ones with mangrove leaves and harvest every six months.
Desa Nolloth, Saparua Island 107