Strengthening Customary Practices and Sasi to Support the Marine Protected Area Plan in Teon, Nila, and Serua

In preparation for the establishment of a marine conservation area in Teon, Nila, and Serua (TNS) Islands, Central Maluku Regency, Maluku Province, Yayasan Konservasi Alam Nusantara (YKAN), through the Global Affairs Canada (GAC) Program, held a participatory planning session and initial workshop to assess gaps and capacity-building needs for sasi management in TNS.

The activity, which took place at the TNS Subdistrict Office on Tuesday, 3 March 2026, was attended by 65 participants, including clan representatives, religious leaders, the Latupati Council, subdistrict government officials, village government representatives, women’s groups, and youth representatives from the islands of Teon, Nila, and Serua.

Through this assessment, stakeholders mapped active and inactive sasi areas, identified challenges in management and post-harvest processing, and formulated priority needs for community capacity development. In addition, a proposed Sasi Zone of approximately 688 hectares has been allocated within the draft TNS marine conservation area, which was agreed upon through a series of public consultations.

Ronald Wonmaly, Head of the Teon Nila Serua Subdistrict, stated that the subdistrict government fully supports strengthening the sasi practice as part of sustainable resource management. “Sasi is a customary system that has long protected our seas. With capacity-building and collaborative support, this practice can further strengthen the marine conservation plan in TNS. Strengthening sasi management capacity is therefore highly relevant to the effectiveness of the planned marine conservation area,” he said.

Sasi is a community-based customary practice still implemented by coastal communities in eastern Indonesia, particularly in Maluku and Papua. Under this system, communities enforce temporary closures on certain areas or species to allow resources time to recover and reproduce. Sasi closures and openings are determined through customary agreements and ceremonies involving local governance institutions such as the raja and clans.

Natanel Tuakora, Head of the Latupati Council of TNS Subdistrict and Chief of Sifluru Village, emphasized that sasi is vital amidst growing pressure on marine resources. Besides maintaining ecosystem balance, the practice also supports community livelihoods when the harvest season is officially opened.

“For the TNS community, sasi has been passed down from our ancestors for generations. It is part of our tradition. Through this forum, we want to ensure that each village maintains the same commitment to implementing sasi closures and openings and is able to address the emerging challenges,” he said.

Similarly, Rudolf Pormes, Raja of Jerili Village on Serua Island, expressed the community’s hope for strengthened post-harvest processing and governance. “Communities living on Teon, Nila, and Serua still apply sasi both in the sea and on land. We want sasi not only to protect the environment but also to improve community welfare through better management,” he said.

Strengthening Customary Practices While Preserving the Sea

Indigenous communities are the primary actors in natural resource management. Therefore, YKAN consistently applies a conservation approach that engages local communities by supporting institutional strengthening, territorial governance, and technical capacity-building as part of community-based environmental preservation efforts.

Beyond the TNS Islands, YKAN has also provided assistance to sasi groups in the Bird’s Head Seascape, Southwest Papua. This support includes strengthening clan and women’s groups in managing sasi areas sustainably.

Yusuf Fajariyanto, YKAN Senior Ocean Protection Manager, stated that the sasi program assessment in TNS aims to ensure that support aligns with the community’s needs, such as capacity, species knowledge, and best practices in sasi management. “We see sasi as a critical foundation for customary-based conservation. The support provided will be tailored to the priorities agreed upon with the community and stakeholders,” he said.

Through collaboration between the government, customary institutions, and communities, strengthening sasi in TNS is expected to enhance marine governance and serve as a basis for establishing a community-based marine conservation area in the region.