2. Access to resources
The fishers’ individual access to fisheries resources has significantly declined and they expect
more restrictions in future. The respondents explained that this is caused by the fact that
there are more and more regulations and the requirement of permits. Over 50% of the fishers
thought it was acceptable to ask for dispensation to enter the sasi area. This does not mean
that this would be granted (because it would not), but reflects the fishers’ wish to have
flexibility in the application of rules.
3. Distribution of means of production
The distribution of means of production among Nolloth fishers is perceived to be much fairer
now than in the past, and it is expected to improve further. Ownership of fishing gears is seen
to be related to personal ambition and willingness to work. Therefore, the fishers argue that
everybody who wants to, could work for fishing gears etc. Besides, there are the government
programs that include the fishers and help them generate money.
4. Income distribution
When asked about the level of economic disparities between the villagers, fishers reported
that conditions have remained the same. The village women distinguished three social classes:
the rich, the medium (who are just able to send their children to school in Ambon), and the
poor (who live on a subsistence level). Social status is easily recognized in the housing situation
of the villagers. Fishers appear to be mostly in the middle and lower classes. Contact between
the different classes seems limited. One fisher mentioned that the drop in clove prices positively
influenced the level of economic disparities, because, although it had a dramatic effect on
Nolloth’s economy, it leveled out the incomes of people in the village. Individualism caused
people to look only for their personal advancement, resulting in competition.
Although in the minds of fishers, sasi appeared to provide more benefits to the rich than to the
poor, it was not identified as a factor contributing to economic disparity. This is probably because
sasi applies to a limited area, not to the larger fishery that supports most fishing families.
10.8.2 Efficiency
5. Communal decision-making
The degree to which fishers have been able to communally make decisions with regard to the
fishery has decreased and future expectations are negative. Many fishers (77%) saw the style
of decision-making in the village as being a process of common or majority agreement. The
other fishers felt that the village head, with the village government staff, makes all the
decisions. In fact, whether or not the people are involved in decision-making at all depends
mainly on the village leader.
A number of factors may have had an effect on decision-making. It could be that the
introduction of modern fishing gears has caused divisions among harvesters Also, over the
last years, some fishers have seen their access and harvest rights in the sasi area being decreased
in favor of fishers who are members of the KUD. The introduction of national fisheries rules
directed to the village from Jakarta could add to a feeling of alienation. Finally, the soa system,
in which the community members were represented through their clan leader, has been
replaced by the dusun system. This could have disrupted traditional decision-making units.
116 An Institutional Analysis of Sasi Laut in Maluku, Indonesia