By:

• Juwita Pusposari (Community Marine and Business Tourism Assistant)
• Annisa Ruzuar (Responsible Marine Tourism and Sustainable Seafood Communication Advisor, WWF-Indonesia)

The annual meeting of the Lembaga Adat Wanu Atalo'a (Leawana) held last December 12, 2016 marked one year of Leawana being established by the King of Petuanan Kataloka. Petuanan Kataloka has customary rule over Nukus Island, Grogos, Koon and parts of Gorom Island in East Seram Regency, Maluku.

With the assistance of WWF-Indonesia, this semi-autonomous institution plays an active role in physical development and management of natural and human resources in the Petuanan Kataloka area which has been regulated through this customary institution.

Leawana has seven divisions to coordinate the management of natural resources on land and sea. In the first year, two divisions have mobilized and formed organized groups. The fisheries division has Batnata, Tubir Tolu, and Watu Mariri, while the tourism division has Bansina.

Batnata in Samboru, Tubir Tolu in Grogos, and Watu Mariri in Aroa have the goal of developing sustainable capture fisheries and aquaculture practices. This goal was reiterated by Raja Muda Petuanan Kataloka Anshar Rumarey Wattimena during the Leawana annual meeting.

"The people of Kataloka must remember not to fish in the prohibition location. The location is closed with a customary oath not without reason. Like in the fish market area in Koon waters, it is a spawning location for reef fish. If you continue to catch fish, there will be no more fish in Kataloka and even in Maluku," he said.

Based on a rapid survey conducted by WWF-Indonesia in 2011, a number of points in Koon waters are the highest density fish spawning sites in Eastern Indonesia. Earlier this year, WWF-Indonesia with a number of partners conducted #XPDCKoon to obtain basic data on aquatic ecology and map the potential for dive tourism in the location.

However, Leawana's year was not just about developing fisheries. Batnata, Tubir Tolu and Watu Mariri are not the only groups working to advance Kataloka. Patuanan Kataloka also has Bansina, a group under Leawana's tourism division that is committed to the development of local tourism.

"Bansina, according to belief, is the mountain where the ancestors of Petuanan Kataloka were born. We hope that the Bansina group will also be the beginning of responsible group-based tourism in Petuanan Kataloka," said Moh. M. T. R. Wattimena, chairman of Bansina.

In addition to developing tourism groups, seven homestays are managed in the Petuanan Kataloka area. "There are eight rooms that tourists can stay in. Homeowners are also ready to welcome with typical Kataloka hospitality," she continued.

Since April 2016, Leawana has managed the payment of environmental services in Koon and the waters of Petuanan Kataloka. By the end of November, twenty-one sailing vessels diving around Koon had contributed to the scheme. The ship Damai V also visited Petuanan Kataloka and was welcomed by various traditional events organized by Bansina.

Now, Leawana is preparing to hold the Kataloka Festival, a sea and cultural festival that promotes local tourism potential. From December 27 to 31, the entire Patuanan Kataloka community is ready to welcome tourists to the Kataloka Festival. Mass dances, traditional Goran Riun fashion shows, crafts, and singing competitions are ready to invite tourists to get to know the wisdom and culture of Petuanan Kataloka more closely.

Suba au lau Goran lo'a-welcome to Gorom! Suba au lau Goran lo'a-welcome to Gorom!

Further information about the Kataloka Festival, please contact Vitho Wattimena - 081247375262