Author: Nara Wisesa (WWF-Indonesia)

Today (11/14) is the last day for the #XPDCMBD Team to collect data on land and at sea. On this last day, the Land Team came to Watuwey Village, Dawelor Island. Before the whole team went to the field, as usual, in the morning Kris (DKP Maluku Barat Daya) - who this time was accompanied by Damora (WWF-Indonesia) - went down first to coordinate with the village head (kades). After that, above 09:00 WIT, both the Land Team and the Sea Team, just started collecting data at each location.

Watuwey Village is located on a small western island of Babar Island. The coast of the village is quite beautiful and unique because it is overgrown with beach cypress trees. Along the beach there are also many shelters or saung built, and there are also quite a number of fishing boats moored on the beach. In addition, there are also many residents who are doing activities around the beach and the 'methi' area. Apparently, the reef and 'methi' area right in front of the village was deliberately dug up for boat traffic in and out. This really did not make it difficult for the fast boats boarded by the Land Team to enter without obstacles like the previous days in the villages visited.

Upon arriving at the location, the Land Team was awaited by a village staff on the beach, who then walked together to the village head's house. While walking to the village head's house, the team briefly stopped by the sub-district head's office to report on the rapid survey. After that, the team rushed to the village head's house. Once there, while waiting for the fishermen to return from fishing and join the survey, the team chatted with the village head. However, because his sense of hearing was impaired, the conversation or communication was mostly carried out by the village secretary (sekdes).

Watuwey is a fairly large village, with well-organized buildings and streets. This is because the village had received development assistance from PNPM. But even so, the villagers were somewhat disappointed because they felt that the development was not what they needed, but rather assistance with fishing equipment in order to improve the residents' economy.

In this village there is only one elementary school, one junior high school, and one senior high school. It is estimated that there are around 130 households living in Watuwey Village. PLTS electricity and six clean water wells are also available. The land area of Watuwey Village does not have the potential for gardening due to infertile soil. This encourages the villagers to rely on the sea for their economy and daily needs, although the majority of the fish caught is primarily for the consumption of the villagers, with the rest sold outside the village. In addition, the village has two resident-owned motorboats.

Sasi church applies in this village for lola, batulaga, and sea cucumber commodities. Sasi is opened when there are interested buyers, which usually come from Saumlaki and Tual. Currently, sasi has been closed for two years. The commodity price of milk sea cucumber during the opening of sasi is high, which can reach IDR 90,000 per individual. As for clams, in 2012 residents could still find these biota with large sizes. However, since Watuwey Village became the center of the sub-district and a lot of development was carried out, it is now very difficult to find clams.

For the construction of houses, the villagers still use coral stones, which are taken at the back of the village, because coral stones in the sea and the front coast are prohibited by village regulations to be taken and utilized. This prohibition is signaled by coconut leaves stuck on the sand on the beach.

Meanwhile, from the results of focus group discussions, key informant interviews, and rapid mapping conducted by the Land Team, it was also learned that a fishing company from Bali - thought to be PT Pulau Mas - sometimes comes to Watuwey Village to buy live reef fish. This last transaction is estimated to have taken place two years ago. The majority of the reef fish commodities purchased are grouper.