Hulaliu lies on the south shore of Seram Strait, which is the main fishing area. The fishing
grounds are divided into the white waters (shallow) and the blue waters (deep). Along the
drop-off is a coral fringe. When the weather is calm, most fishers go out to fish in the deep
strait between Haruku and Seram, but when the weather is bad and the currents strong, fishing
is limited to the near-shore shallow areas, like the former sasi area.
The former sasi area covers a 3 km long, shallow stretch of water in front of the village. It runs
from the SNP school in the south to the headland just north of the built-up area. The sasi area
is mainly used by fishers who fish from the shore with cast nets, and by shellfish gatherers.
The area is divided into different parts depending on the marine products that can be found.
The predominantly sea grass area is an important nursery ground for fish.
The village of Hulaliu claims (informal) property rights over certain parts of the deep sea and
shallow areas. Fishers from outside, using a particular area for a certain period of time, are
required to pay a fee to the village government.
13.1.2 Biological characteristics
The majority of the fishers (57%) target both reef and pelagic fish. Twenty-one types of fish
were recorded as commonly caught. In addition, fishers target octopus and various shellfish.
In the shallow waters, women are active in shell gathering, mainly for consumption. One
female respondent mentioned she used vegetable poisons (akartuba) to catch the fish trapped
in the shallow waters at low tide. Shellfish are an important food supplement when there are
no fish available. Women also catch top shells (lola), japing-japing shells (also called Mancadu),
and black oysters. The pearl oyster shells are sold, while other shells are locally used as garden
decorations or the like (see Figure 13.2).
Figure 13.2. A village garden in Hulaliu.
The women we interviewed explained that there are still many shells on the beach. They do not feel
the situation is deteriorating, but admitted that big shells (>30 cm), like the one the kewang uses for
announcements, can no longer be found. An old lady, Anto Siahaija (71), has been picking shells
since she was a 17-year old girl. She explained: “There are still big shells on the meti (shallow coastline),
160 An Institutional Analysis of Sasi Laut in Maluku, Indonesia