An institutional analysis of sasi laut in Maluku, Indonesia



Table 16.8. Economic status of fishers in case study villages. Economic score=adding land ownership,
house, boat, type of gears and TV (see Section 2.5.3). Minimal housing=made of light materials
such as sago palm thatch; Low=made of light materials plus wood or lumber; Medium=combination
of lumber and concrete with thatch roofing; High=made of concrete and metal roof.

Nolloth

Haruku

Tuhaha

Hulaliu

Seri

Hutumuri

Average Economic score

8.47

8.70

9.27

9.10

8.81

10.35

Standard deviation

2.22

2.47

2.12

2.22

1.64

2.59

% of sample with external income

26.7

33.3

26.7

36.7

6.9

13.8

Average external income/year (in Rp)

263,750

343,500

596,250

485,730

775,000

1,585,000

Average external income/year
(in USD, early 1997 exchange rate)

10,550

13,740

23,850

19,429

31,000

63,400

Housing (% of fishers in each category)

Minimal

20%

17%

7%

3%

0%

3%

Low

20%

23%

7%

13%

7%

24%

Medium

13%

30%

30%

7%

21%

14%

High

47%

30%

56%

77%

72%

59%

Possible explanations for the lower economic score of the sasi villages include the limited access
that fishers have over the resources, which reduces individual benefits. This is the case where
the benefits from
sasi are spent for village development in general (Nolloth) or re-distributed
among all villagers (Haruku). Besides, the
sasi villages have no large-scale fishing gears (lift
nets and FADs) which provide high individual benefits but are intensive and generally seen as
destructive. On the other hand, the difference may have more to do with access to markets
(distance, infrastructure) or the relatively advanced age of the
sasi village fishers (Table 16.2).

Hutumuri has no restrictions on the fishery at all. Our fishers’ sample in Hutumuri included
approximately half of all the lift net
/FAD owners interviewed and this could explain why the
average economic score is high.

16.4.3 Job satisfaction

In all villages, most fishers are highly satisfied with their jobs. The general positive answers
included “I like my job”, “It is in my blood” and “It is my hobby”. Most fishers (87%) in the
sample from the six villages report that they would still become fishers if they had their life
to live over. However, most fishers acknowledged the dangers and insecurity associated with
fishing. When asked if they would change occupations if an alternative were available, 36%
said “yes”. This varies a great deal across the villages, however, from a low of 20% in Hutumuri
and Nolloth to a high of 54% in Seri (Table 16.9). The most likely reason to change was if they
could find something more profitable. The differences between the six villages are statistically
significant (p<0.02).

Table 16.9. Job satisfaction in case study villages.

Job satisfaction

(in % of fishers’ sample)

Nolloth

Haruku

Tuhaha

Hulaliu

Seri

Hutumuri

Are satisfied with their job

86

83

97

80

86

89

Would change job if they could

20

43

31

50

54

20

Want job for children: in fishery
as government official

18

7

7

10

4

8

61

68

73

72

75

28

Comparative Analysis of Case Study Villages 219



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