Organizations at the village level were very similar (Table 16.3). Organized fishers groups
were usually IDT and KEP, i.e., fisheries development aid groups. Haruku is distinctive in
having both an environmental organization and a youth kewang, both spearheaded by
traditional leaders. Village governments varied in that the LMD was more or less functional
and incorporated adat leaders to different degrees. These differences were related to the
legitimacy of the village head. Nolloth’s leader, being a respected raja, was highly legitimate.
In Haruku, conflict between the village head and kewang over mining reduced the leader’s
legitimacy. People even disputed whether he was properly from the raja line or not. The
leaders of Haruku, Hulaliu and Tuhaha all have residences in Ambon and frequent absences
from their villages cause political problems. Hulaliu’s village head also faces serious problems
from a contra group that actively seeks to undermine his position. In Hutumuri, the village
head is not from the raja line and is considered to be an outsider with no legitimacy. The
dusun head in Toisapu is, however, considered legitimate. Seri is similar in that the dusun
head is of the raja clan but the village (desa) head is not. Traditional leaders in Seri are seeking
to change their status from a dusun to a desa.
Table 16.1. Biological and technical attributes: comparative view of case study sites. Y=yes, N=no,
L=limited, M=moderate, H=abundant, intense or highly applicable; nd=no data available.
|
Marine sasi |
Sasi bein |
g revived |
No |
sasi | ||
|
BIOLOGICAL ATTRIBUTES |
Nolloth |
Haruku |
Tuhaha |
Hulaliu |
Seri |
Hutumuri |
|
Coastal village on small island |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
|
Two seasonal monsoons |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
|
Tropical climate with adequate rain |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
|
Level of marine stock exploitation |
H |
H |
H |
M |
H |
M |
|
Fishery resources |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
|
Top shell and sea cucumber resources |
M |
nd |
nd |
nd |
L |
L |
|
Wave-exposed shore |
H |
M |
M |
M |
H |
H |
|
Coral reef in village territory |
H |
M |
M |
H |
H |
H |
|
Sea grass bed in village territory |
L |
H |
H |
M |
N |
L |
|
Fishers target reef fish |
40% |
56% |
60% |
90% |
45% |
60% |
|
Fishers target pelagic fish |
93% |
86% |
97% |
67% |
66% |
78% |
|
TECHNICAL ATTRIBUTES | ||||||
|
Fishers with no gears nor boats |
<30% |
<25% |
<30% |
<30% |
<25% |
0 |
|
Fishers with small boats without motors |
63% |
53% |
63% |
70% |
79% |
78% |
|
Fishers with motorboats |
7% |
27% |
7% |
3% |
0 |
11% |
|
Number of hand liners and net fishers |
H |
H |
H |
H |
H |
H |
|
Presence of lift net and FAD owners |
N |
N |
L |
L |
M |
H |
|
Territory dominated by large-scale |
N |
N |
M |
M |
H |
H |
There were several important differences among villages in their external attributes (Table
16.4). Tourism is only a feature in Haruku, and this is largely restricted to visitors who come
to the annual sasi ceremony. Haruku is also unique in having mining exploration activity in
the watershed. Hutumuri suffers environmental impacts from external development, i.e.,
fish and plywood factories polluting Baguala Bay. None of the villages had significant
interaction with provincial or national agencies.
214 An Institutional Analysis of Sasi Laut in Maluku, Indonesia