Author: Ignatius Tri Hargiyatno (KKP)

Luang Island is one of the islands visited by the Southwest Maluku Expedition Team. The island, which has two villages - West Luang Village and East Luang Village - is topographically surrounded by a vast sloping coral reef. This coral reef holds many natural resources, especially fish and other marine life, and is very suitable for cultivation. In contrast, the mainland, which is shaped like a mountain range, is barren and cannot be used as a plantation or agricultural area. This makes the people who live on this island rely solely on the sea as a source of livelihood.

Compared to the waters of the other islands visited, we found many boats in the waters of Pulau Luang. One type of boat that is often found on the island is a wooden boat, often referred to as a 'jolor boat'. These boats measure between 12-13 meters in length, 1.30 meters in width and 0.75 meters in height. The ship, which has an engine inside the body, is used by fishermen as a means of transportation in fishing, with fishing rods, traps, and nets. There are around 200 units of 'jolor boats' on the island, spread across West Luang Village and East Luang Village.

According to the information I got from several fishermen during the fisheries data collection, all boats on Luang Island are made by the local community. The raw materials used to make 'jolor boats' are taken from Sermata Island and Moa Island. It takes about one month to make a jolor boat, which is then sold at a price range of IDR 6 million/unit (without engine) and IDR 20 million (with engine). Buyers of these 'jolor boats' made by the people of Luang Island do not only come from the local population, but also come from villages around Luang Island.

In addition to capture fisheries, 'jolor boats' made by the people of Pulau Luang with simple technology, are also used as a means of transportation in seaweed cultivation.