3. Fair distribution of fishing gears
Distribution of means of production is seen to be significantly fairer now than in the past,
and this is expected to continue to improve. However, it is more likely that it is the result of a
general increase in fishing gears, than a change in distribution. Economic needs, competition
and education pushed people to exert more personal effort to make a living. More people
went to the sea, and purchased gears, and thus the total capital investment increased. More
people have fishing gears now, but distribution depends very much on the extent to which
fishers are able to compete and on how much effort they are willing to put in.
4. Economic equality
When asked about the level of economic disparities, fishers reported that conditions had not
changed significantly. Future change is also not expected. Equality is stimulated through the
establishment of fisher groups and a general increase in income in the village. Factors that
affect economic disparities in a negative way are: 1) the reduction in clove prices, 2) differences
in education, 3) differences in personal efforts, 4) availability of capital, 5) personal motivation,
6) increasing competition, and 7) access to government programs.
15.8.2 Efficiency
5. Communal decision-making
Partnership in decision-making is also limited, and has not changed over time. The majority
of the respondents felt that the style of decision-making in Toisapu-Hutumuri is a process of
common or majority agreement. Others felt that most decisions are made by the village head,
with or without the village government staff. However, education has made people more
aware and these fishers feel they want to be involved. They agreed that all stakeholders should
be involved in decision-making. Of the fishers, 87% actually felt that local groups had a role
in decision-making, but only 17% felt that outsiders were involved.
6. Ease of entry
Entry into the fishery is significantly harder (23% change) due to rising costs that fishers
expect will increase in the future. Although the general tendency for poor farmers is to start
fishing, one fisher stated that “although fish are still abundant, the number of fishers decreases
because of high costs of fishing.” Toisapu-Hutumuri fishers complained about the increasing
costs of gears and maintenance. Fees and increasing fuel costs (due to the longer distances to
the fishing grounds) have also made fishing more expensive.
7. Control over access to the fishery
Control over access to the fishery is seen to be the same as in the past, but again perceptions
vary greatly. It must be noted that the question was interpreted as “the ability of the
government to limit access of outsiders to resources”, and since the village government has
no role in enforcement and neither are there “security officials” or a kewang to take this role,
control is minimal. On the other hand, there were fishers who stated that personal awareness
of people and supervision by the government positively influenced control.
208 An Institutional Analysis of Sasi Laut in Maluku, Indonesia