By: Abdul Maskur Marasabessy

Representatives of fishermen in the North and North West Seram District (Serutbar), consisting of Pasanea, Gale-Gale, Labuan, Horale and Sawai Villages, had the opportunity to attend the socialization of the Community-Based Monitoring System (Sismaswas) (29/1). This activity is a follow-up to the findings and reports of IUU fishing in the waters of the Serutbar Region. Moreover, this area is being encouraged to become a Coastal and Small Island Conservation Area (KKP3K) of Serutbar Small Island Park (TPK), so that destructive fisheries activities can be minimized with the formation of a Supervisory Community Group (Pokmaswas). The community believes that the formation of Pokmaswas can be a solution to the problems caused by the rampant fish bombing activities that have occurred in recent months.  So the five villages agreed to immediately form Pokmaswas in each village.

Materials on endangered marine species and law enforcement rules for marine resource utilization were also delivered by the Sorong Coastal Marine Resource Management Workshop (LPSPL). Considering that there are still many residents who catch protected fish species or just make them as pets. Some of the socialization participants also just found out about the protection status of marine animals, such as sea turtles, napoleon fish, clams and others. As well as the legal sanctions of imprisonment and fines for keeping them.

After the material, Hussein Makatita, one of the participants from Sawai Village who works as a fisherman, said that he had kept two green female turtles (Chelonia mydas) in floating net cages 3x3 meters. Turtles play a vital role in marine ecology. Their presence helps coral reef ecosystems survive by feeding on algae attached to corals. Sea turtles have been fully protected by the state, listed in law number 5 of 1990 concerning Conservation of Natural Resources and Ecosystems.

Led by DKP Maluku Province, all participants agreed to open a discussion room so that Hussein and the people of Sawai Village understand more about sea turtle protection and agree to release the two green turtles. Some people and tourism businesses did not agree with this proposal, because they get benefits when tourists pay to see the turtles.

The community also loved the turtles because they had been their friends for a long time. Nevertheless, Husein has decided to release the two turtles voluntarily. "After WWF came here and made counseling, we found out. So happily, we want to release the turtles. So that it can be an example for other communities," said Husein. As a fisherman, Husein believes these turtles will be more useful if they are in the open sea, especially for fishermen like him who also depend on marine products for their livelihood.

Before the release, the team conducted morphometric measurements led by Ms. Wiwit Handayani from LPSPL Sorong on both turtles. Curved carapace length (CCL) and curved carapace width (CCW) were measured, with the results of each turtle: CCL 65 cm and CCW 59.5 cm, and CCL 100 cm and CCW 90 cm. At 18.50 WIT, the turtles were released. The turtle release was witnessed by relevant stakeholders consisting of the Head of Sawai State Government, Maluku Provincial DKP, Maluku Provincial DKP Branch of Island Cluster 3, Central Maluku Fisheries Service, Maluku Police, PSDKP Ambon Station, LPSPL Sorong Ambon Satker, WWF-Indonesia and Sawai Village community.

The monitoring of protected marine animals is one of the expected objectives of the Pokmaswas formation in Serutbar. WWF-Indonesia as an implementing partner of USAID Sustainable Ecosystems Advanced (USAID SEA) will also assist in terms of capacity building of Pokmaswas related to monitoring and reporting of destructive fishing activities, encouraging an increase in the presence of law enforcement in the area, as well as encouraging the enforcement of destructive fishing perpetrators from law enforcement.