6. Ease of entry (costs)
The costs of entry into the fishery have significantly increased (16%) and are expected to rise
another 11% in future. Around Haruku Island, people have to pay in order to fish in specific
parts of the sea and this is especially the case for Butonese fishers who have to pay goods,
gears, or fish, to the respective village government. Our sample contained a number of
Butonese fishers and, therefore, the perceived costs were relatively high (score 7.07).
7. Control over access to the fishery
Control over access to the fishery is seen to be better than in the past. The kewang was said to
play an important role in controlling access and enforcing regulations, and the mini-kewang
will ensure control in the future. However, for the future, no changes are expected. It was
said that control has to be good because people depend on the fishery.
8. Compliance
According to the fishers, compliance is high. However, compared to the past, compliance
with fisheries rules has declined by 11%. It was explained that the conflict between the village
head and the kewang is, for some people, a reason not to comply. Also, people who do not
respect the kewang do not abide by the rules. Compliance is expected to decline 6% further.
Compared to villages where sasi is lost, however, compliance rates are still high (score 6.73).
The respondents explained this score as being due to tight rules, adat and customs that are
still important to the people.
11.8.3 Social sustainability
9. Family well-being
Family well-being has remained the same compared to the past, and is expected to improve
only slightly in the future. The villagers’ livelihood has been negatively affected by the declines
in clove harvests and clove prices. They had to turn to the cultivation of cacao and coffee. A
common notion of the respondents was that “people will have to work harder especially
since the prices for daily needs have increased.”
10. Income
Fishers reported a significant 11% decline in their income over the past 15 years, but expect
no major changes in the future. The drop in clove prices has been disastrous, but for the
farmers who are also fishers, the decline was compensated by higher prices given for the fish.
11. Tradition of collective action
It was felt that the level of communal action had gone down significantly: 18% less compared
to the past and a further drop of 9% was expected in the future. The respondents rated past
performance as high (mostly score 8-9 out of 10). At the root of the decline lie personal financial
interests and growing individualism (especially of young people), loss of customs, and good
leadership. However, collaboration is part of the culture, i.e., “the way they were brought
up” and over half of the fishermen felt that this will keep them working together.
138 An Institutional Analysis of Sasi Laut in Maluku, Indonesia