Over half of the fishers (59%) had permanent housing (cement with zinc roof) and 54% had
TV sets. The economic indicator is made up of adding scores for land ownership, boat type,
house and gear. Overall average economic score for 27 villages was 8.6, SE=0.10. For Hutumuri-
Toisapu, the indicator was 9.7 with a standard error of 0.43 (Appendix 2). Factoring in TV
ownership (Appendix 3), the score was 10.4, the highest of all the case study sites. However,
despite their apparent high economic scores, Hutumuri fishers were relatively dissatisfied
with their level of well-being and pessimistic about the future.
15.3 Market Attributes
Artisanal fishers in Toisapu-Hutumuri sell their catch through their wives who act as small
fish traders. More than half of the fish sales are sold directly to local or city consumers. Fishers
can also decide to sell their fish to small vendors (20%) or through an auctioneer (borok) (27%).
Occasionally, the fisher will take his catch directly to a retailer in Ambon.
On an average, 21% of the fish caught are eaten by the family. Three of the fishers do not eat
any of the fish they catch, while none eat more than half of their catch. Marketing is never a
problem as fish are always sold out. Usually fish are sold fresh, but the fish that are caught at
night are smoked and sold the next day.
15.3.1 Local fish trade
Compared to the other villages, not as many people have picked up trade. Most do some
buying and selling as a side activity to make some extra money for education, clothes etc.
This is probably related to the fact that trade was only stimulated when the transport system
from Toisapu-Hutumuri to the city of Ambon was improved. Toisapu is now a regional landing
place and buzzing with activities. Traders come from all over the Lease Islands and Ambon to
either sell or buy fish. When fish are abundant at the Ambon market, the traders will take the
fish to Hutumuri to sell.
The fishers’ wives sell their fish locally or take them to the Ambon or Passo markets. The key
factor in choosing the point of sale is the price they get for the fish, which in most cases (67%)
is set by the fisher or his wife. Fish prices fluctuate every day, depending on the weather
conditions, demand, supply etc. The women get information about prices from other fish
traders in Toisapu or Ambon. There is no credit system and the fish are paid for in cash.
Between the fishers and the female fish vendors, there are two types of agreements. If the fish
trader is an outsider, he or she has to pay for the fish right away, but if it is somebody from
the village, the fish trader can take the fish, sell them and pay the fisher afterwards. This
relation is based on trust and interdependency. If there is any sign of cheating on either side,
the fishers will sell their fish to another trader or the female fish trader will buy her fish from
somebody else.
15.3.2 Commercial fish trade
The price that the traders get at the Ambon market depends largely on supply and demand:
when fish are scarce, the price increases. It is the market auctioneers who set the price each day.
Hand line fishers often buy baitfish directly from the lift nets. In some cases, the lift net
operators agree on a price among themselves and ignore the market price.
202 An Institutional Analysis of Sasi Laut in Maluku, Indonesia