used for household consumption. Women thus are highly dependent on marine resources, but
they are not involved in resource management. Now that sasi will be re-established, their opinion
is not sought. The women simply wait for things to happen: “If the village government wants
to establish sasi, they will do that.” (Augustina Lohenapessij, a Tuhaha fish trader). Consequently,
women have little practical knowledge of sasi; they only know that “sasi is good”.
Likewise, in other village matters women are generally not consulted. About 23% of the fishers
in our sample considered women to be completely outside the decision-making process.
Women are not invited to general government meetings, and have no say in village
expenditures. Only when training and programs are planned specifically for women, are they
asked for advice. Yet, because women in Tuhaha harvest, trade and consume marine resources,
their involvement in decision-making is crucial.
12.2.4 Profile of fishers
The average age of the 30 respondents was 53 years, and 11 were under 45 years old. Only
two women were interviewed. Nearly all of the respondents were born in Hulaliu. Their
families consist of seven people on an average. Children who have left, have mostly gone to
work with a few leaving for school or marriage. Of the respondents 73% had only elementary
education, less than the average education level in Tuhaha.
Nearly all fishers (97%) are landowners, but the principal part (75%) of the household income comes
from fishing (a relatively high percentage). Additionally, 27% of these households have an externally
derived income of an average Rp596,000 per year (USD238, early 1997 rate). The fishermen were
highly experienced and had spent on an average 34 years in the fishery. On fishing days, they spend
about nine hours at sea, while a third of the fishers made fishing trips of 12 hours.
Despite the long hours at sea, nearly all Tuhaha fishers expressed satisfaction with their jobs.
They felt happy and free at sea and fishing provided them with an acceptable income. Nine
fishers said they would change their job if somebody offered a more profitable alternative.
Although the respondents were satisfied with their profession, only 7% wanted their children
to be fishers. Farming was not a favored alternative either. Three-quarters of respondents
would much rather see their children become government staff.
The economic indicator of the fishers’ sample is made up of adding scores for land ownership,
boat type, house and gears. Most fishers lived in a cement house with zinc roof. The overall
average economic score for 27 villages was 8.6, SE=0.10. For Tuhaha, the indicator was 8.7
(with a standard error of 0.36), which is mid-range (Appendix 2). Adding TV ownership brings
the total score to 9.3, which is second highest among the case study villages.
12.3 Market Attributes
Approximately 75% of the fish sales are direct to consumers. The fishers sell their fish either
through their wives or other female fish vendors. Small amounts are sold at auctions through
fish brokers (borok) or sold to wholesalers.
The fish vendors sell over half of their fish in the local market. About 20% are taken to the
town of Saparua and the rest go to regional centers. The key factor in choosing point of sale is
price. In most cases, the fishers say the price is set by the fisher or his wife, although in fact,
larger market forces clearly define limits for fish prices.
146 An Institutional Analysis of Sasi Laut in Maluku, Indonesia