learn their fishing methods. Some fishers come from neighboring areas. A group of Tuhaha
fishers, for instance, rented the shallow area in 1993 for two months. Others come from further
away, i.e., Sulawesi or Arboru. Sometimes the arrangements with outside fishers lead to
problems. In 1996, there was a group of fishers who caught lobsters, but they destroyed the
coral reef in the process. Since these fishers did not even have a permit, they are still being
prosecuted. Other fishers target ornamental fish which are not caught by local fishers.
It is also possible to rent parts of the deep sea. Decisions on licensing these to fishers are
made by the village government without consultation with the villagers, while the revenues
are for the village (government). When an agreement is reached with the outside fishers and
the decision is made, the village head will announce in the village which parts are rented out.
The local fishers then are not allowed to fish there.
13.2 Attributes of the Community and Fishers
Hulaliu is a middle-sized village with 2,122 inhabitants. The people are divided over 359 households
with an average size of five persons. The total number of families has increased over the years due
to population growth. The predominantly Christian village has a small Butonese minority of 130
persons. The migration rate is negative. The emigrants are relatively small numbers of youngsters
who leave for Ambon to go to school and never return. There is no tourism in the village.
Hulaliu has its own health center (PUKESMAS). There are two elementary schools (alternately
in the morning and afternoon), and a high school. The village is equipped with water pumps
and has 160 m open waste water canals (plus an additional 28 m from the school to the sea).
Ninety-five houses have septic tanks. The village has electricity and some villagers have TVs.
Compared to the other villages, transport links are extremely low. There are asphalt roads, but there
is no frequent mini-bus service. Chartering transport is very expensive. The nearest village where
speedboat service is provided is Pelauw, approximately 10 km away further along the road. Hulaliu
has no telephone connection and for communication, the village depends on hand-delivered mail.
Employment
Hulaliu is predominantly agriculture-oriented. The official village records registered 797
farmers and only 18 fishers. But as in the other villages, this figure is not accurate because
most people fish part-time or seasonally. Only three people were reported as professional,
full-time fishers and these were the lift net owners. Currently, the number of people fishing is
increasing because of the need for the additional income.
Since 1979, the number of vendors and traders has increased from 6 to 24, and the number of
laborers has increased from 6 to 34. The most significant increase, however, are the people working
for the village government. Before, there were 10 government officials (mainly teachers), but after
the restructuring of the village government, the number of government staff has increased to 79.
13.2.1 Village government
Hulaliu receives annual subsidies from the higher government levels for village administration
and development. The subsidies are supplemented by contributions from relatives who live
outside the village or abroad, and by the fees derived from the lease arrangements with outside
fishers who fish in the Strait of Seram.
162 An Institutional Analysis of Sasi Laut in Maluku, Indonesia