Indonesian Conservation
The sky in Maas Village, Karas District, Fakfak Regency, West Papua, was already beginning to brighten that morning. At the end of the pier, a middle-aged man was preparing his boat. His name was Salim Yarkuran, but he was more familiarly known as Om Salim. He deftly started the boat's 40-horsepower engine, followed by four men and a young woman who immediately jumped aboard. The roar of the engine signaled them to begin their important task of protecting the sea.
Om Salim is the coordinator of the Nusa Matan group, a community watchdog group (Pokmaswas) tasked with monitoring the Nusalasi-Van Den Bosch Bay Coastal Park Conservation Area (KKTP), a crucial area in Fakfak Regency. The group was formed in 2018 by four kings from the petuanan areas within the conservation area: Petuanan Arguni, Wertuar, Pegpeg Sekar, and Petuanan Atiati.
Meanwhile, the name Nusa Matan itself comes from the Fakfak language, meaning "the tip of the cape." Nusa Matan was officially designated by the West Papua Provincial Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Service, through Decree of the Head of the West Papua Provincial Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Service Number 11 of 2019, concerning the Establishment and Confirmation of the Nusa Matan Community Watch (Pokmaswas) Marine Conservation Area of Berau Bay and Nusalasi-Van Den Bosch Bay Coastal Park, in Fakfak Regency.
While carrying out monitoring activities known as Marine Watch at that time, Om Salim said that initially the four petuanan kings were very actively involved since the creation of this conservation area. Including petuanan community officials such as Warnemen, Kapitan, Sangaji, and Jejauw. He said that the kings together with the community provided input to the government to determine zoning points in the area.
"Kitong pu (we have) sacred places, sasi-sasi locations, tong redefining Everyone knows (we'll let everyone know) so that it is included in the conservation area map. If the barrel is in a place (if our place is) included and determined by the central government, it means that all locations are also recognized and apply to everyone, not just us (for us) who are here," said Om Salim while observing the waters in front of him.
Om Salim said that marine conservation activities in the Fakfak KKTP (National Marine Conservation Area) are conducted regularly, averaging 15 times per month. He and his colleagues must ensure that the community uses the sea sustainably and in accordance with the conservation area's zoning system. For example, the community is only allowed to fish with environmentally friendly equipment, engages in tourism activities wisely, and holds a utilization permit from the conservation area manager.
“That was earlier us (we) saw a fishing boat, Dong ada fishing rod (he fished) near Toran Beach. Tong (we) are just data. Dong (he) got quite a lot of red fish, maybe 20 kilograms because
This is a good season. Kitong akan patrols whore until (traveling to) Tanjung Tonggarai," he said.
Besides communicating with fishermen, they also talk to fish collectors who buy the catch.Let's ask, okay? (we asked them) which fishermen did they take it from, whether Dong (They) know what fishing gear is used, how much is taken, how much it costs," said Om Salim.
Not only does it provide a livelihood for local fishermen, but it turns out that the waters monitored by Om Salim and his team are also visited by collectors from other areas. He recounted visiting someone in the Kambur Beach area, who later turned out to be a collector from Riau, waiting for fishermen to deliver fish to be transported to Jakarta.
"He buys fish from fishermen and sends them to Jakarta. He's afraid the community will evict him if he has to go to the villages, especially to stay overnight and buy fish. Sa (I) finally took him to the village. Sa (I) think it can redefining (give) benefits to fishermen in the village too."
For the people of Fakfak, preserving nature is a tradition passed down through generations. One important tradition is Kerakera, a system that ensures no party over-extracts natural resources, whether from the sea or forests.
"Kitong (we) see, this conservation area has the same value as what our ancestors taught and passed down to us. us (us). That's why our ancestors created a tradition called Kerakera to regulate it so that us between redefining abis (we don't use up) everything that's in the sea and in the forest. Because us (we) are used to Kerakera, that's why us (we) support this KKTP, because the model is the same. Iko (help) protect this sea I've done it (has become) the most tangible form of support for KKTP.”
Pokmaswas has become a form of active community involvement and full support for conservation area management. According to the initiator, as stated in the organizational structure, this group is coordinated by the king who formed it and is entirely comprised of local residents living in the area.
In addition to their duties as marine security guards, the Pokmaswas (Community Watch Group) is also involved in raising awareness among fishermen about the importance of conservation areas. The supervisors tirelessly explain the importance of conservation areas to the community.
The Sea Guard program, spearheaded by the Nusa Matan Community Watch (Pokmaswas), involves more than 360 local residents, 35 of whom are women. Since 2021, they have conducted over 160 sea patrols. In 2023, they recorded an 8% decrease in violations in the conservation area compared to the previous year. Om Salim is optimistic that this figure indicates a growing public awareness of the benefits of conservation areas.
