Image: Nature Institute
Since ancient times, communities living along the eastern parts of Indonesia have been using a traditional system referred to as sasi in order to conserve the ocean water they depend on for their survival.
Even before marine protection systems were invented, and even before catch quotas were set through conservation legislation, local indigenous communities had established their own unique practices regarding when and where to catch fish and other marine life.
Today, with coral reefs increasingly challenged by overfishing, global warming and habitat loss, the return of the practice represents a turning point.In many islands of Maluku, Papua and even the greater Wallacea region, local communities are now beginning to close their fishing grounds, restrict harvesting and ensure stewardship within the local environment. Scientists now realize that reviving such practices could be a great example of how indigenous knowledge can work alongside contemporary conservation science.
How the centuries-old SASI system became a model for marine conservation
The roots of the Sassi go back hundreds of years, making it one of the oldest known systems of natural resource management in Indonesia.
This practice, embedded in customary law, or custom, allows communities to temporarily ban harvesting in specific areas until resources have enough time to recover.The principle is simple but effective. Rather than allowing continued exploitation, communities decide collectively when fishing grounds, reef areas or shellfish habitats should be closed. During these periods, harvesting is strictly prohibited.
Once local leaders determine that species populations have recovered, the area is reopened under carefully managed conditions.“The Sassi has been in existence for more than 400 years” and remains deeply intertwined with local culture and governance systems, researchers Ingvild Harkes and Irene Novacek point out in a study titled “Presence, Performance, and Institutional Resilience of the Sassi, a Traditional Administration Institution in Central Maluku, Indonesia.” Their research highlights how community participation and traditional enforcement mechanisms have enabled the institution to survive despite social and economic changes.What makes SASI particularly distinctive is that many of its principles mirror those used in contemporary fisheries management. Seasonal closures, restricting access, resource monitoring, and community-based enforcement are all strategies that marine scientists are now widely recognized as effective conservation tools.
Why are indigenous communities in eastern Indonesia reviving traditional ocean protection?
The renewed interest in sassi comes at a critical moment for marine ecosystems. Eastern Indonesia lies within the Coral Triangle, an area known for containing the highest levels of marine biodiversity on Earth.
However, these waters are increasingly threatened by overfishing, destructive fishing practices and environmental change.Faced with declining catches and concerns about ecosystem health, many communities have returned to traditional management systems that had been weakened or abandoned during periods of social and political transition.Studies in West Papua, Kaimana and the Maluku Islands show that locally managed marine closures can help replenish populations of economically important species such as sea cucumbers, trochus shells and reef fish.
By allowing breeding populations to recover undisturbed, these temporary restrictions contribute to improving marine ecosystems and increasing crop sustainability.Research such as “Sacred Water and Fish: Traditional Practices and Fish Conservation in Indonesian Communities,” which examines the Koiwai people’s practice of sassi (gam), has concluded that the system continues to play an important role in balancing environmental protection and community well-being. Rather than decoupling environmental conservation from local livelihoods, this approach treats healthy ecosystems as a foundation for long-term economic security.This connection between people and nature is fundamental to SASI’s success. Communities are not passive observers of conservation programs designed elsewhere; They are active custodians whose cultural traditions directly shape environmental outcomes.
What the SASI revival means for the future of coral reefs and global biodiversity
More scientists are now beginning to realize that the knowledge-based systems of traditional and local communities can offer solutions to modern conservation problems.
In searching for ways to conserve biodiversity, the situation in eastern Indonesia is a clear case to show how important it is for local communities to take the lead in preserving their environment.According to the research titled “Local Wisdom of Sassi as Cultural Capital for Sustainable Tourism Development in Raja Ampat Region, West Papua,” published in the International Journal of Green Tourism Research and Applications, Sassi acts as an effective institution of common property resources because it ensures sustainable use of natural resources and distribution of benefits.
Therefore, one can conclude that environmental conservation becomes more successful if people own, control and manage their environment.The recovery of the Sassi in this case provides another important lesson for global conservation. Most indigenous communities have acquired years of ecological knowledge in dealing with problems within their environment. Rather than becoming obsolete, this knowledge provides the basis for solving environmental problems.With the current problems facing coral reefs around the world, the people of eastern Indonesia have shown that ancient wisdom can help them come up with innovative approaches to environmental conservation. Their efforts show how cultural heritage, scientific understanding and environmental stewardship can work together to protect marine ecosystems for future generations.
