Kor’a Inasua Festival Promotes Cultural Strengthening and Ocean Conservation Knowledge in Teon, Nila, Serua

Efforts to strengthen local culture through traditional food were reaffirmed at the Kor’a Inasua Festival held in Teon Nila Serua (TNS) district of the Central Maluku regency. The festival, which took place from April 10–11, 2026, provided a space for cultural expression and served as a medium for marine conservation education. It highlighted the close link between the sustainability of marine resources and the tradition of inasua processing.

Inasua is a traditional culinary product in the form of fermented fish native to TNS society and was designated as an Intangible Cultural Heritage (WBTb) of Indonesia in 2015. This culinary practice is a method of preserving fish with salt, born from the need for food during the windy season. Inasua represents the local knowledge of coastal communities in efficiently and sustainably managing their catches. The fish used, including those from deep-sea waters, underscores the importance of maintaining healthy marine ecosystems, which are the main source of raw materials.

The Regent of Central Maluku, Zulkarnain Awat Amir, stressed the importance of integrating cultural practices, like inasua, with efforts to conserve natural resources. “As a traditional food, inasua is part of the coastal community’s identity in Maluku, particularly TNS. In this context, protecting the sea is directly correlated with environmental sustainability as well as the continuity of culture and the local economy,” he said.

Empowering women’s groups was a crucial aspect of the festival that went beyond local wisdom and culture. Through a series of training sessions, the festival aimed to improve the quality of inasua production. This entailed improving hygiene and food safety, bolstering financial literacy with record-keeping and business planning, and developing products and marketing strategies based on inasua processing. By doing so, the festival empowered women to become pivotal figures in coastal economies and the sustainable management of marine resources.

The festival also involved the younger generation of TNS in preserving Inasua culture and raising awareness about the importance of environmental protection, particularly the sea. Their participation included environmental education activities, social media content creation contests, and educational conservation games.

Echoing this sentiment, Teon Nila Serua Subdistrict Head Ronald Wonmaly recognized the festival as an opportune moment to enhance the community’s collective awareness. “We encourage the community to continue practicing wise local traditions in utilizing marine resources. This festival serves as a shared learning space about the importance of a healthy sea for daily life,” he said.

From the customary perspective, the Head of the TNS District Latupati Council, Natanel Tuakora, emphasized that local wisdom values have long taught a balance between humans and nature. “Customary law teaches us not to take more than we need. The sea is an ancestral heritage that must be preserved so it can continue to sustain future generations,” he stated.

YKAN Supports Customary Practices and Conservation

Together with partners and the community, Yayasan Konservasi Alam Nusantara (YKAN), through its marine program, supports the preservation of marine and fishery resources by strengthening local culture, providing conservation education, developing the coastal community economy, and promoting traditional seafood-based foods in the TNS Islands. A culture-based approach is considered effective in building public awareness of the importance of sustainable marine resource management.

In this context, traditional Inasua cuisine is closely related to healthy marine management. One of the preferred fish for inasua is locally known as “ikan babi,” which is also called gindara fish (Ruvettus pretiosus) in Indonesian. It belongs to the Gemylidae family.

Muhammad Ilman, YKAN’s Ocean Program Director, stated that traditional practices like Inasua reflect values of efficiency and sustainability that align with conservation approaches. “We see that strengthening customs and local culture is an important foundation in promoting sustainable fisheries practices. When communities preserve their traditions, they are simultaneously protecting marine ecosystems. This aligns with the planning of marine conservation areas in TNS waters carried out by the government with YKAN’s support,” Ilman explained.

The Kor’a Inasua Festival aims to foster collaboration between local governments, indigenous communities, and development partners to ensure the long-term sustainability of coastal resources. In addition, this activity serves as a public education platform that a healthy sea is a fundamental prerequisite for the survival of coastal communities’ culture and economy.