Author: Alexandra M. Waskita (DSCP Site Manager Alor, WWF-Indonesia)
Translated by Evert W Fanggidae

In Alor, disturbance upon dugongs and their home has happened for more than once. In September 2017, dugongs’ habitat was intruded by 30 foreign tourists. Report from Jakbes Asamau, the Principal of Kabola High School and administrator of Mail'Maha Fishermen’s Association, was accepted by Onesimus Laa and the community immediately escorted the visitors away.

People also reported the installation of shark net in the nearby area, Pante Deere Village, and the case was handled by the law enforcement authorities. The increasing disruption on the dugongs, their habitat and the surrounding ecosystems has prompted governments and local people to increase surveillance on coastal and marine areas.

For several times Onesimus had received information that Mawar (the dugong) his concerns and encouraged him to contribute even more. Now, his role also encourages him to gather more people to preserve the coastal areas.

Onesimus is the present Chairman of Kabola Fishermen Forum as he is as well the Chairman of Ol'Oho's Environmental Group, one of the conservation activist groups in Mali Beach and Sika Island, Kelurahan Kabola and Alor. The navy and the water police explain that the community’s role is to assist the government in monitoring destructive activities that take place in their surroundings.

“In order to follow-up people’s reports, we need the informers to provide photos or video recordings along with their accounts and information on the chronology of illegal fishing activities that happen in conservation area,” says the Chief Police Brigadier of Alor water police, Yosh A.

Rasyid Blegur adds that it is important to increase awareness among the fishermen about sea cultivation and safety matters. “Signs of zoning boundaries should be placed around the core zone of Sika Island, together with information boards about the zoning and its prohibition, and, above all, the law consequence that can be imposed on the violators.”

“Socialization in schools is also very substantial to do”, states Alor Water Police Brigadier Junaedi. To this, Sardin Lotang from Pokmaswas (Kelompok Masyarakat Pengawas/Community Watch Group) Sinar Kabola adds that such socialization needs to be held in religious gatherings as well. Socialization about protected fish species will be conducted by the division of fisheries of Alor’s Department of Marine and Fisheries in fish landing area in Ampera Village, Northwest Alor Sub District. General protection of rare animals has been regulated in Act No. 5 of 1990, while the specific protected animals and the penalty are contained in its derivatives, Legislative Requirement no. 7 of 1999.

The incidental nature of violations in the conservation area prompts the immediate formation of Selat Pantar Natural Water Sanctuary’s management, through the cooperation between the province and the regency agents of the Department of Marine and Fisheries. Due to the gap of control span and the difference of authority in terms of conservation and law enforcement at the provincial and regency levels, the involvement and collaboration of the manager with other parties at the community and local government levels are urgently needed.