MHA Malaumkarta Drafts Customary Regulations on Sustainable Ocean and Coastal Resource Management

The Malaumkarta Indigenous People (MHA), with various stakeholders, organised a Workshop on Drafting Customary Regulations for Sustainable Marine and Coastal Resource Management on Monday, 18 August 2025. The event took place at Suatolo Village Hall, Makbon District, Sorong Regency, Southwest Papua Province. The Sorong Regency Government and Yayasan Konservasi Alam Nusantara (YKAN) supported the event. This workshop was part of efforts to strengthen community-based governance of marine resources.

This workshop is a follow-up to Sorong Regent Regulation (Perbup) No. 7 of 2017 concerning Customary Law and Local Wisdom in the Management and Protection of Marine Resources. The regulation also recognises the role of MHA in managing approximately 4,000 hectares in Malaumkarta.

“Recognition of customary law is not just a form of respect for community culture but also key to ensuring the sustainability of marine resources and the well-being of future generations. Environmental conservation is also an embodiment of God’s Word and a follow-up to the 18th Sinode Assembly in Yapen Waropen regarding the protection of all natural resources in Papua,” said the Chairman of the Moi Customary Council, Pastor Paulus K. Safisa.

Pastor Paulus K. Safisa emphasized that the customary regulations will serve as a model for other Moi tribes. By implementing these regulations, they will ensure the preservation and effective implementation of existing local wisdom. This wisdom should be documented in written regulations that are recognized by customary law. Additionally, environmental sustainability and community welfare will be taken into account.

The workshop was attended by the MHA Malaumkarta Wooti Kook Management Unit, Moi Customary Council, Greater Malaumkarta Customary Council, and village heads from the Greater Malaumkarta area. Religious leaders, women leaders, and youth representatives also participated. This diverse participation reflects a collective commitment. The goal is to ensure the regulations are inclusive and binding on all parties.

The Moi tribe, as the customary rights holders, has long practiced ‘egek,’ a tradition that prohibits harvesting marine products for a specific period to preserve resource sustainability. The drafted customary regulations will include egek zones, ensuring that this local wisdom is documented and preserved through written rules.

“Egek is a tradition that must be safeguarded because of its strong connection to sustainable natural resource utilisation. YKAN and its partners support egek sustainability through monitoring assistance, aiming to determine the appropriate reopening time and the suitable size of harvestable biota,” explained YKAN’s Senior Manager for Bird’s Head Seascape, Awaludinnoer.

In addition to egek zones, the meeting agreed to include fish banking zones, sacred zones (kofok and soo), and fishing gear regulations. Only environmentally friendly fishing gear is permitted, while the use of bombs, potassium, nets, and tuba roots is prohibited.

To support sustainable fisheries management and data collection, since 2022, YKAN and fishers from Malaumkarta and Soatolo villages have implemented the Crew-Operated Data Recording System (CODRS) to record fish catches. This data serves as the basis for developing community-based fisheries management strategies.

“The drafting of these customary regulations is a pivotal moment to merge local wisdom with scientific approaches. The data collected by fishers strengthens the legitimacy of customary rules and directly benefits sustainable fisheries management,” said YKAN’s Senior Manager for Sustainable Fisheries, Glaudy Perdanahardja.

Besides zoning provisions, the customary regulations will define the role of the Community Monitoring Group (Pokmaswas) Funuwai Tasik as the guardian of marine and fisheries resource sustainability in MHA Malaumkarta. They will actively assist the government in field supervision, raising community awareness, and preventing environmental degradation.

“The function of these customary regulations is to manage the utilisation of coastal and marine resources in Malaumkarta. It’s not about prohibiting use but regulating it so that resources remain sustainable and can benefit future generations,” said the Head of the MHA Wooti Kook Malaumkarta Raya Management Unit, Torianus Kalami.

These regulations aim to protect not only ecological aspects but also the socio-cultural rights of indigenous communities while promoting their economic well-being. Through exclusive access rights within a community-based fisheries management approach, local fishers gain secure living spaces and opportunities to increase income without harming the sea.

The customary regulations are scheduled to be ratified this year by the Moi Sub-Tribe Customary Council of Moi Kelim, in the presence of government representatives and relevant stakeholders. For the Malaumkarta community, drafting these regulations is a form of responsibility to ensure that the sea continues to provide life for both present and future generations.