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December 26, 2024 | 09:49 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Waves crash softly in silence at the estuary where the river meets the beach in Negeri Haruku on Haruku Island, Central Maluku Regency. The ripples gently lap against four motorboats docked on the shore. On Monday, November 11, 2024, low waves broke around motorboats returning from Tulehu Harbor in Ambon, Maluku, a journey of about 30 minutes from Haruku by speedboat.
To the residents of Negeri (village) Haruku, the final quarter of the year is the most awaited for as customary leaders will normally announce open sasi. Sasi is a tradition passed down throughout generations, prohibiting anyone from harvesting natural resources during a specific period. The tradition is meant to protect the natural resources and environment, including the sea and coastal areas.
In Negeri Haruku, the community practices sasi lompa, referlompring to the lompa fish (Thryssa baelama) that gather at the estuary. When the sasi is lifted—typically for just one day—the community is allowed to catch the fish. However, once sasi lompa is reinstated, no one is permitted to fish.
Eliza Kissya, the Chief of Kewang—a customary institution in Maluku tasked with preserving the environment, especially customary territories and waters—in Negeri Haruku, explained that sasi lompa aims to maintain the lompa fish population and protect them from overfishing. The residents of Negeri Haruku strictly adhere to the rules of sasi. “We don’t want our sea to be damaged or its resources to be depleted,” said Eliza, 75.
Illegal fishing is a serious issue in Indonesia’s eastern waters. In late October 2024, the East Nusa Tenggara Regional Police reported four cases of illegal fishing in their waters. According to the police, the perpetrators used fish bombs to plunder marine resources.
An investigative report by Tempo in collaboration with Jaring.id revealed that several foreign fishing vessels banned during the tenure of former Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister Susi Pudjiastuti had returned to sea. These vessels were previously subject to a fishing permit moratorium due to extensive fish poaching.
Eliza shared that the tradition of sasi in her area has been practiced for decades. During this time, he has never witnessed reckless fishing, such as the use of fish bombs. He believes that implementing sasi has significantly preserved the marine ecosystem in Negeri Haruku.
One indicator of its success is the abundant arrival of lompa fish during sasi relaxation, signaling the community’s opportunity to fish. “This is the tangible impact of sasi on our marine ecosystem,” said Eliza, who was a member of the Indigenous People’s Alliance of the Archipelago (AMAN) from 2007 to 2012.
According to Eliza, sasi begins when mature lompa fish ready to spawn appear near Haruku’s coast, typically from April to May. When the fish migration starts, Eliza erects wooden stakes wrapped in young coconut leaves at the estuary, marking the start of sasi lompa.
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