significantly lower economic score for Tuhaha compared to other villages. In fact, the economic
situation is above average. Even though nowadays people have greater economic demands,
it is likely that other factors, for example, the political instability in the village, contributed to
non-compliance (also see Section 12.8).
12.5 External Institutional and Organizational Arrangements
Link with higher government bodies
The village government obtains information regarding laws and ordinances through the district
government. An officer visits the village approximately 15 times a year to carry out extension
programs and to give advice to the villagers. Other government agencies, like BAPPEDA, are
not active in the village. There is no support from higher government levels to enforce the
existing fisheries laws. The villagers, for instance, have never seen a patrol boat in the area.
The village head gets general information about policy issues through regional government
meetings. This forum has to date not dealt with fisheries management, which, in the light of
general fisheries development and intensification, is not yet an issue.
In 1993, the Fisheries Agency of central Maluku initiated a program in Tuhaha to stimulate
and develop the local fishery through the establishment of fishers’ groups and extension
programs on the use of modern gears. For some unknown reason, the program was not
particularly successful.
Collaboration with other institutions
Recently John Lokollo, a legal expert from Pattimura University, came to the village to talk
about the extension of the formal government structures and laws and the potential role of
village institutions in marine resource management.
Technical assistance was further provided by Yayasan Hualopu for the establishment of
aquaculture (sea cucumbers) but natural disasters ruined the project. Additional extension
programs promoted the use of fish cages, cold storage techniques, sea cucumber processing
and awareness training on sustainable resource use. Material on marketing possibilities for
other marine products was provided through the Hualopu publication “Marinyo”.
External economic influences
The effect of the drop in clove prices may have had less effect on the local economy compared
to other villages, because cloves are not extensively produced in Tuhaha. The size of the forest-
garden area limits agricultural production.
Economic stress was several times mentioned as affecting resource use, despite the relatively
high average score for family well-being. The monetary crisis also affects the villagers, but to
what extent, this is not clear.
Infrastructure and development
There are no major infrastructure or large development projects around the village.
Desa Tuhaha, Saparua Island 151