that has been politically stable over time. Common villagers feel part of the system and perceive
the centralized management as representing their interests. Although economically the situation
is rather bleak compared to most villages - people have to work long hours and fish catches are
declining - there is little intrusion in the sasi area and compliance with regulations is high.
Nolloth still has resources under sasi which are fished elsewhere, i.e., top shells (Trochus niloticus)
and sea cucumbers. Performance indicators on which Nolloth scores high in terms of equity
and efficiency are the role of fishers in management, control over the fishery and compliance.
Scores on social sustainability are high for collective action, discussion of village issues and
village harmony. Although Nolloth fishers perceive serious restrictions in access and involvement
in decision-making, they perceive the management system to be legitimate.
Haruku shows how sasi can evolve to be a management and conservation strategy that stimulates
social equity. The kewang plays a major role in resource management. The village government,
however, is in the process of re-organizing itself after the problematic election of the current
village leader. Fishers perceive higher access to resources than Nolloth fishers (but less than the
open-access fishery in Seri and Hutumuri) and they feel control over the resources is high. At
the moment, Haruku scores low in communal activities, discussion of village issues, communal
decision-making, and they note a decline in the role of fishers in management. Most low scores
on these social variables may be related to the political stress in the village. Haruku fishers
perceive a large decline in income, while family well-being has also decreased compared to the
past. Even though sasi has a redistributive character, economic equality in the village scores
low. Most other scores are average. The fact that, for many indicators, Haruku fishers are positive
about the future (e.g., discussion of village issues and their involvement in fisheries management
and partnership), indicates that most of the low scores are more likely to be related to political
instability than with the general village structure and/or the presence of sasi.
16.7.2 Villages that are in the process of revitalizing sasi
Tuhaha is a village that is going through a period of political confusion. Adat leaders are trying
to establish a position in the village government while trying to re-institutionalize their
traditional authority. Through the revitalization of sasi, the village leader tries to secure a
functional village government and generate revenues for the village. Possibly related to the
change from open-access resources to government property rights and the general political
instability, Tuhaha scores low on all equity indicators and compliance. Their future prospects
are also rather negative. Fishers are very negative about their income. The economic score of
Tuhaha is medium, but Tuhaha is highly dependent on fishing, and the generally older fishers
we interviewed spent long hours at sea while the state of the resource and fish catches have
declined. On most indicators for social sustainability, scores are average compared to the other
villages, but all are declining except for family well-being which has increased strongly over
the years. However, compared to the other villages, the current score is likewise medium. The
relation between the fishers and the village government seems distant: fishers perceive
partnership to be low as well as their role in management. Future prospects are generally
negative. The re-establishment of sasi may have positive impacts, but currently, perhaps because
most fishers are not aware of or included in the process of revitalization, expectations are low.
Hulaliu is politically in the same position as Haruku, i.e., politically divided. The village,
however, is also in the process of revitalizing sasi. Hulaliu has an average economic score, while
housing is good. The score of fishers for current well-being is highest (together with Seri), while
their income has remained the same. Fishing is not that important in providing income, as
people are farming-oriented and fishers spend less than six hours at sea each day. A large part
of the catch is consumed and not sold. Indicators for social sustainability score rather low. It is
Comparative Analysis of Case Study Villages 237