Indigenous Malaumkarta Raya Community Ratifies Customary Regulation for Marine and Coastal Conservation

On 16 October 2025, the Indigenous Malaumkarta Raya Community (MHA) took a crucial step in safeguarding marine and coastal resources by ratifying the Customary Regulation on Marine and Coastal Resource Management. The ratification was carried out through an adat (traditional) meeting and ceremony in Malaumkarta Village, Makbon District, Sorong Regency, attended by traditional leaders, community figures, government representatives, and development partners.

“Indigenous communities have the right to their territories, the right to determine their development direction, and the right to benefit from the natural resources above and below their land. Therefore, the regional government is committed to continually strengthening policies that protect the rights of indigenous peoples, whether through legal recognition, designation of customary territories, or synergy in spatial planning and regional development,” stated Southwest Papua Governor Elisa Kambu in a written speech delivered by George Yarangga, Expert Staff for Economic and Development Affairs to the Governor.

“Through this Customary Regulation document, we learn that customary law and state law do not have to conflict. Both can work hand in hand, complementing each other to achieve social justice, environmental preservation, and shared prosperity,” Elisa added in his written remarks.

This initiative follows the mandate of Sorong Regent Regulation Number 7 of 2017, which recognizes the Moi Indigenous Community’s right to manage approximately 4,000 hectares of coastal area in Malaumkarta. Through the customary regulation, the legitimacy of locally driven marine management is further reinforced with a clear and collectively recognized legal foundation.

The Head of the Moi Indigenous Council, Reverend Paulus K. Safisa, emphasized that ratifying this customary regulation is a responsibility of the current generation to ensure environmental preservation and the welfare of future generations.

“Recognition of customary law is not only a form of respect for community culture but also a key to keeping marine resources sustainable. This sets an example for all Moi clans to translate existing local wisdom into written regulations that are formally recognized,” he asserted.

The Moi community has long practiced egek, a temporary closure of fishing areas to allow fish stocks and marine life to recover. This tradition is now strengthened through the Customary Regulation, which establishes egek zones, fish reserve zones, and sacred zones (kofok and soo). The regulation also mandates the use of environmentally friendly fishing gear while prohibiting destructive practices, such as using explosives, poison, nets, or tuba roots.

According to Awaludinnoer, Senior Manager of the Bird’s Head Seascape Program at Yayasan Konservasi Alam Nusantara (YKAN), reinforcing this tradition is part of a synergy between science and local wisdom.

“Egek is a tradition that keeps the sea productive. YKAN supports the community by assisting in monitoring egek areas to ensure that opening times and harvests follow sustainability principles,” he explained.

Since 2022, Malaumkarta fishers have also participated in recording their catches through the Crew-Operated Data Recording System (CODRS). This data empowers the community to make informed and evidence-based management decisions.

“The preparation of this customary regulation is a strategic step to integrate local wisdom with scientific approaches. With this synergy, customary law gains not only cultural legitimacy but also strong technical foundations to promote sustainable fisheries,” said Glaudy Perdanahardja, Senior Manager for Sustainable Fisheries at YKAN.

Legacy for Future Generations

The official Customary Regulation of MHA Malaumkarta Raya was signed during a solemn traditional ceremony, witnessed by government representatives and development partners. The involvement of multiple stakeholders ensures that the customary regulation is inclusive and represents a collective agreement.

Torianus Kalami, Head of the MHA Wooti Kook Malaumkarta Raya Management Unit, stressed that the purpose of the customary regulation is to manage resource use, not to prohibit people from harvesting the sea.

“This customary regulation ensures that marine resources are utilized wisely so that they remain sustainable and can be enjoyed by future generations,” he said.

In addition to maintaining ecological balance, the regulation strengthens socio-cultural values and provides economic security for local fishers. Through a community-based management approach, fishers gain exclusive access rights to manage their marine areas independently, without fear of losing their livelihood to destructive exploitation.

For the Malaumkarta community, drafting and ratifying this customary regulation is a tangible expression of their responsibility to protect the ocean. This effort ensures that coastal resources sustain life today and remain a legacy for future generations.