The main fishing grounds for the fishers of Hutumuri traditionally lie in Baguala Bay. Due to
industrial activities around Baguala Bay, the water in the bay has become polluted. In addition,
competition from commercial lift nets has increased. Therefore, the fishing grounds now extend
north to Tial.
15.1.2 Biological characteristics
The greatest number of fishers (40%) target only pelagic fish, while a further 17% fish both
pelagic fish and reef fish. Seventeen species of fish were recorded as commonly caught: 10
pelagic fish and 7 reef fish. Women are active in bameti (shell gathering) for food production.
No shellfish were listed as commercially important.
The marine environment has visibly deteriorated and fishers expect further deterioration (see
Section 15.8.4). If they have the appropriate gears, fishers nowadays go as far as Liang, Nurue,
and the island of Seram to fish (see map). Most of the fishers (76%) also reported reduced
catches. Certain fish species have become rare or seem to have disappeared, i.e., tatihu (type
of tuna), cakalang (skipjack) and komu (mackerel). Baitfish are still abundant in the bay and
the use of lift nets is prominent.
The most outstanding threats to the marine environment around Toisapu-Hutumuri are a
plywood factory and two fish plants. The factories release wastewaters that pollute the bay.
Oil spills from large boats and the use of toxins and bombs in the fishery have devastating
effects on the local fishing grounds as well.
Fish catches depend to a great extent on the techniques used. For fishers using lift nets and
FADs, fish catches are increasing. But more than a third of our sample fishers saw these modern,
highly competitive gears as a threat to the fishery.
15.1.3 Fisheries technology
There are fewer than 15 full-time fishers in Toisapu and, therefore, it was decided to include
Hutumuri fishers in our survey. Nearly all the fishers own their own boats (perahus) but only
17% have motors.
Commonly used fishing techniques are nets, fish traps, hand lines and lift nets. Nearly half of
the fishers in our sample (46%) had nets, 27% had only hand lines, and 17% used other gears.
Six lift net owners were part of our sample. Ten percent of the fishers owned no gear at all. It
is very likely that these fishers work on the lift nets.
Artisanal and small-scale fishery
Most artisanal fishers fish in front of Toisapu and Hutumuri. They have no preference for
certain species or sizes of fish. Commonly caught with hand lines are tengiri (Gymnosarda
unicolor), silapa (Pristipomoides sieboldi), gorara (Lutjanus basmira), and gora (Holocentrus sp.),
(also see Appendix 3). Reef fish, such as the last two species, get a better price in the market.
Generally, fishers go out 1-3 times a week depending on the availability of baitfish. The best
time to go out is at full moon and spring tide. The best months for fishing are September and
October when the tides are highest. Other months with large amounts of fish are April-June
and November.
196 An Institutional Analysis of Sasi Laut in Maluku, Indonesia