Coral Triangle Center (CTC), in collaboration with the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) and supported by the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) and the David and Lucile Packard Foundation, hosted the Marine Tenure and Sasi Practices Symposium in Maluku and Papua on Wednesday (5/2). The symposium gathered marine researchers, policymakers, community representatives, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in Ambon to discuss the latest developments and realities of marine tenure systems in Maluku and Papua.

The symposium, using a hybrid format, was attended by 65 in-person participants and 244 online participants via Zoom. It was officially opened by the Director of Conservation of Aquatic Ecosystems and Biota at the Directorate General of Marine and Spatial Management, Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries, Dr. Firdaus Agung. Also present was the Head of the Maluku Provincial Marine and Fisheries Office, Dr. Ir. Erawan Asikin, who shared insights on the importance of synergy between the government and local communities in ensuring the sustainability of marine resources.

During the symposium, CTC and BRIN presented findings from their study on marine tenure and sasi practices in Maluku and Papua. The study analyzed 133 publications dating back to 1990 and incorporated interviews and focus group discussions conducted in the Banda and Lease Islands. The research explored the roles of various actors in the governance of sasi, the regulations in place, and how these practices are organized within communities.

“Through this symposium, we aim to share our study findings and gather insights from various stakeholders to enrich our understanding of marine tenure practices. We hope this information will support more sustainable marine area management that will benefit communities and contribute to the national 30 by 45 initiative, which seeks to protect 30 percent of coastal and marine resources by 2045,” said CTC Executive Director, Rili Djohani.

In the plenary session, Principal Researcher at BRIN’s Research Center for Society and Culture (PMB), Dr. Dedi S. Adhuri presented his extensive research on sasi and community-based marine management systems. He emphasized three key components essential for effective natural resource management: well-defined tenure and management areas, clear governance regulations, and strong institutions to implement management practices.

“Coastal communities in Maluku and Papua possess all three elements, structured under the concept of petuanan laut or customary marine territories. This includes management rules such as sasi, bans on destructive fishing, restrictions on mangrove cutting, and governance structures involving the ‘three pillars’—village/national governments, customary and religious leaders, and the kewang as a management institution. While these elements vary across villages, the petuanan laut concept remains deeply rooted in coastal communities. However, sasi traditions are fading in some areas, and the strength of the three governance pillars also varies, with some remaining effective while others have weakened,” explained Dedi.

Further elaborating on his findings, Dedi highlighted that the strong use of the petuanan concept in defining tenure and management areas demonstrates that customary marine rights remain an integral part of marine resource governance. This, he noted, provides a unique foundation for strengthening sasi and enhancing other management instruments while reinforcing governance institutions. “Government recognition of community coastal tenure remains limited. Therefore, a more comprehensive and an expedited recognition process is crucial to integrating petuanan laut into formal marine management policies,” he added.

Professor Hermien Soselisa from Pattimura University further examined the cultural dimensions of sasi and petuanan laut, discussing their roles in maintaining ecological balance and community cohesion. She emphasized that while sasi faces challenges from modernization and external economic pressures, petuanan laut remains a fundamental aspect of traditional marine governance, often influencing conflict resolution and resource allocation among coastal villages.

The second session of the symposium featured three panel discussions that explored different aspects of marine tenure and governance. 

• The first panel examined gender equality and social inclusion in marine management, highlighting the role of women and marginalized groups in managing marine resources. 
• The second panel focused on the integration of local wisdom in coastal and marine resource management, presenting case studies of traditional governance models that have successfully adapted to contemporary challenges, and  
• The third panel assessed the effectiveness of existing marine management systems, identifying key success factors and areas that require further intervention.

Following the symposium, in-person participants joined a field visit to Negeri Haruku on Haruku Island in the Lease Islands on Thursday (6/2). There, they observed the practice of sasi ikan lompa, a traditional resource management system regulating the seasonal harvest of lompa fish. The field visit provided valuable insights into how local communities continue to uphold traditional marine governance systems amid evolving environmental and socio-economic pressures.

Writer: Asia Salsabilla
Photos: Adam Putra/CTC