By Hasrul Kokoh

"To all the people of Kataloka, places such as Kataloka Harbor, Tanjung Kiter to Koon and Grogos must be guarded. It is not allowed to use potash, bombs, and other destructive things. Whoever violates this will perish."

That was the call of the Raja Muda Petuanan Negeri Kataloka, Mohammad Anzar R. Wattimena, in front of a number of traditional elders and the people of his land, on March 11, 2014, on Gorom Island, East Seram Regency, Maluku Province. WWF-Indonesia, Gorom Sub-district Government, Gorom Resort Police, representatives of the East Seram Regency Fisheries and Marine Department, as well as a number of national and international media partners, were also present at the traditional procession.

After the speech, King Anzar together with the elders took turns taking a pinch of sand from a container and sprinkling it into the sea, as a symbol that the waters around Koon Island are officially closed to fishing activities until 2015.

The customary oath is interpreted as a 'ngam' or king's command that must be obeyed and implemented by all the people of Petuanan Negeri Kataloka, including the King himself. This command and oath is enforced for the sustainability of marine and coastal resources in the area, including the protection of fish spawning grounds.

Since 2011, WWF-Indonesia together with the King and the people of Petuanan Negeri Kataloka have agreed on the closure initiative, through a conservation area cooperation namely Marine Conservation Agreement (MCA), which aims to restore the marine ecosystem in the waters around Koon Island. The decision to close the waters around Koon Island for this length of time can be likened to providing a 'bank' with fish as 'savings' for the country's fishermen. If the ecological system can function properly, fish fry will spread, and fish supply will be abundant to the areas around the area.

The waters of Koon Island are an important habitat for marine and coastal resources in the region. Kataloka fishermen refer to the waters of Koon as a 'fish market' - a term they use to refer to the congregation of demersal (reef fish) and pelagic (deep-sea fish) fish. This is not without reason. WWF-Indonesia has studied this scientifically through a rapid survey in March 2010. The result of this survey was the discovery of a number of high economic value fish species aggregating in this water area.

"The waters of Koon Island were identified as a spawning aggregation site for sunu grouper, red snapper, tiger grouper, and big eye bobara," said Abdullah Habibi, Capture Fisheries Coordinator, WWF-Indonesia. In addition, Koon waters also have the highest biomass density (number of species) of fish species when compared to other fish spawning areas in Eastern Indonesia.

To ensure that the conservation agreement was implemented, King Kataloka mandated the head of Grogos Island hamlet - whose area is very close to the waters of Koon Island - to conduct routine monitoring and security. The Grogos Island hamlet chief then assigned 4 residents to routinely monitor MCA-Koon. "We do patrols four times a week. Morning, afternoon, and evening, sometimes we also patrol at night," explained Udin Ruakat, Head of Grogos Hamlet.

If there is a violation by fishermen, the patrol team will approach and reprimand the offender, record the violation and lead them outside the conservation area boundary. If the violator is found using destructive fishing gear, the patrol team will report the violator to the Head of Grogos Hamlet - who will provide an explanation of the importance of MCA-Koon for the survival of all fishermen in this petuanan. Udin added, "If the violator still violates, we will bring the perpetrator to the King to be given punishment according to custom. Severe violations will be subject to a fine of 5 million rupiah for Kalaloka fishermen, and 15 million rupiah for fishermen who come from outside Kataloka. Or it can be given a very severe punishment such as being expelled from the Land of Kataloka."

However, the applicable regulations are not always followed. Violations are still often found, although with much less intensity than before the inauguration of MCA-Koon. Since 2011 until now, the patrol team has recorded 5 violations. Many fishermen were found by the patrol team fishing in the area, claiming not to know or see the boundary markings (in the form of stakes and buoy balls). One of the patrol team members who is also a fisherman from Grogos, Ibrahim Boinau, said, "There has been no more bombing activity in Koon for 2 years now." Ibrahim did not deny that fish bombers still carry out their actions outside the Koon waters. Fishing using bombs and fish poison (potassium cyanide) is still carried out by a number of fishermen around the waters of Nukus Island and Neiden Island.

Since the closure of the Koon water area in 2011, Grogos fishermen have begun to feel the benefits, namely the amount of their catch has increased from previous years. Ibrahim and other Grogos fishermen have been able to catch more than 10 large snapper or grouper. Previously, the catch never exceeded that amount. "They can weigh up to 3 to 5 kilograms," Ibrahim said.

Unfortunately, the increasing catch of fish has not been equipped with supporting facilities for post-catch handling, such as cold storage as a place to store the catch. The long distance does not allow them to store and sell their catch to fish collectors in Gorom. Often, excess catches are wasted, especially during the peak fishing season. But the fishermen do not despair. They prefer to dry their catch before selling it to Gorom. The dried catch will fetch them a much better price than the fresh catch.

The proceeds from the sale of this catch can be used by the fishermen to send their children to junior high school in Gorom, high school in Bula, and even university in Sorong, Papua. The patrol teams and fishermen who have benefited from MCA-Koon agree that they are always eager to secure these waters for the sustainability of their lives and the future of the children of Kataloka Country.