<i>Sasi</i>and Marine Conservation in Raja Ampat, Indonesia

Abstract

Abstract Raja Ampat, Indonesia, possesses the greatest diversity of corals and reef fishes on the planet. The area is a priority for marine conservation for the provincial government, local communities, and major international nongovernmental organizations such as The Nature Conservancy and Conservation International. Traditional marine resource management practices in the region, referred to as sasi, have the potential to support conservation objectives. This article contends that while traditional marine resource management systems may support conservation, they must be reinforced by a supportive social structure and governance system to remain relevant in a rapidly changing world. Two villages in Raja Ampat were studied to gain a better understanding of sasi and how this practice has been affected by cultural, political, and economic change. These villages illustrate how the role of religious authorities, access to alternative livelihoods, proximity to urban centers, and capacity for monitoring and enforcement may influence the effectiveness of marine resource management systems. Our research suggests that the continued relevance of sasi in marine resource management relies on the support of influential local leaders and businesses and government regulations that reinforce traditional resource use practices. Keywords: customary marine tenuremarine conservationRaja Ampat sasi Acknowledgments We thank the people of Raja Ampat, including the village leaders, for allowing us to work in their communities. We thank Elisabeth Pasapan and Lukas Rumetna for their invaluable contributions with data collection. We acknowledge the many villagers in Raja Ampat who contributed to this research, especially Abdul Soltief, Muhammad Noch Soltief, Stevanus Faam, Andreas Mjam, and Dian Boeng. We acknowledge the Nature Conservancy's Raja Ampat field team including Anton Suebu, Yohanis Goram, Nita Wartiantini, and others for their guidance, technical support, and good community relationships, without which this research would not have been possible. Finally, we thank the anonymous reviewers who provided thoughtful comments on this article. This research was supported by the Nature Conservancy and the University of Hawaii.