An institutional analysis of sasi laut in Maluku, Indonesia

The Fisheries Agency has advised the people, who are farming-oriented, to develop more
fishing activities in Hutumuri. Together with the Department of Industry and Trade and the
Department of Agriculture, the Fisheries Agency initiated training on fishery resources and
operations, improved fishing methods, economic aspects of the fishery and regulations.
Training was delivered by the KUD. There has been no training on fisheries management,
and the higher government levels are not involved in enforcement. Navy or police patrol
boats never visit Hutumuri.

Collaboration with other institutions

The village head frequently meets with government officials from various departments and
the Ambon Municipality. He also attended a course and training about village government.

One adat custom is still operational. Among certain lineages of Hutumuri, Sirisori and Tamilow,
there are strong traditional ties. Every five years, descendants of these clans meet to
commemorate their pela gandong (lit. “united by ancestry”).

External economic influences

Because Hutumuri is near two important market places (Passo and the city of Ambon), local
trade is significant. A good transport system enhanced market activities and many people
have changed from fishing to the production of cash crops. The drop in clove prices and the
drought in 1997/98 caused a great loss of crops and many people returned to the sea to fish in
order to make ends meet.

Infrastructure and development projects

There are two industrial activities in the vicinity of dusun Toisapu, a fish processing plant and
a paper mill, both in Batu Gong. The fish processing plant provides work for 21 people, and 8
women from Toisapu work in the paper mill.

The oceanology branch of the Indonesia Institute of Sciences (LIPI), in collaboration with the
village government, has conducted a trial on the cultivation of top shells in Hutumuri. Juvenile
shells were used to restock the coastal area. The people support the project. Two villagers (P.
Lilipory, a police veteran, and B. Souhuwat) are paid Rp. 75,000 a month each to control the
project facility and fish ponds.

15.6 Incentives to Cooperate

Acknowledgment of a problem

Fishers notice a clear deterioration of their natural resources. The fish and paper factories
pollute the water in the bay, blast fishers destroy the corals and schools of fish and the use of
FADs and lift nets depletes the baitfish stocks. The fishers have to go further out to fish. Their
traditional methods, however, cannot compete with the modern fishing gears and the fishers
cannot afford to buy modern gears themselves. Aquaculture is difficult because the natural
conditions (winds and currents) are unfavorable. The small-scale fishers have now come to
the conclusion that the fishery has to be managed.

Dusun Toisapu, Desa Hutumuri, Ambon Island 205

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