An institutional analysis of sasi laut in Maluku, Indonesia

Access to marine resources

As was true for the larger sample of 28 villages (Chapter 8), the changes in the degree of access
through time are negative (Table 16.13), and not significantly different from village to village.
However, the scores of the individual villages for the degree of access in the past, present and
future are significantly different (Table 16.13). In the past, Hutumuri and Seri had a high level
of access to resources (open-access regime), while Hulaliu had the most restricted access followed
by Tuhaha and Nolloth. At that time, all these villages had sasi. These three villages still perceive
a low degree of access in comparison with Seri and Hutumuri. In Hulaliu and Tuhaha, there is
no sasi, but access is limited for certain parts of the sea that are rented out. In the future, fishers
in both Tuhaha and Hulaliu expect restricted access to resources and this coincides with the
plans to revitalize sasi, which will include new access rules.

Table 16.12. Pearson’s correlation coefficient for correlations between contextual variables and fishers’
attitudes or performance indicators. Statistically significant correlations are marked by *=p<0.05;
**=p<0.01, ***=p<0.001.

A relatively positive perception of access is correlated with having an external income and being
in a village that does not have much communal fishing activity (as in Seri and Hutumuri). Fishers
who think their access is relatively greater also tend to have a rigid belief that rules should not be
bent, as is commonly felt in Hutumuri. They also share a perception that village decision-making
is dominated by leaders, as is the case in Haruku. Fishers with more access to resources also tend
to have the feeling that decision-making does not necessarily need to be inclusive of all stakeholders
(Table 16.12). Fishers holding this opinion were found in Seri, Hutumuri, Haruku and Tuhaha.
Having more expensive gears is, interestingly, not positively correlated with perceived access.

The difference in current condition between Nolloth and Haruku, both sasi villages, is revealing.
In Nolloth, where the rights to harvest are auctioned out, sasi is apparently perceived as a restriction.
In Haruku, on the other hand, fishers do not see sasi as a major restriction, because they get to
harvest directly. The harvest is communal and distributed amongst all villagers but this dilution
of their access is not resented. In Seri and Hutumuri, access is also perceived to be relatively high.
This conforms to the reality; there are few or no regulations in practice that limit access.

Comparative Analysis of Case Study Villages 223

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