Training and mentoring of the sasi management group in the context of surveying fishery resources in the Sasi area of Menarbu Village

Efforts to encourage sasi as an indicator of ecosystem-based fisheries management (EAFM) are continuously being improved by the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (KKP). This time, in collaboration with the Teluk Wondama District Fisheries Service, the Directorate of Fish Resources Management (Dit. PSDI) Directorate General of Capture Fisheries (DJPT) is holding training and mentoring the sasi management group in the context of surveying fishery resources in the Menarbu Village Sasi area.

The activity facilitated through grant funding from the Global Environmental Facility (GEF)-6 Coastal Fisheries Initiative – Indonesia Child Project (CFI-ICP) in Eastern Indonesia aims to evaluate the performance of the sasi fishery using EAFM tools. The Monitoring Community Group (Pokmas) as well as the Menarbu Village Sasi management group were directly involved as surveyors. Previously they were trained in the use of EAFM tools, the benefits of monitoring and the use of the data collected. It is hoped that this Sasi group can independently present information on the diversity of fish resources, coral reefs, seagrasses and mega benthos as well as mangrove cover in the sasi area, as well as present the performance of the sasi fishery in Menarbu Village.

The Fisheries Service of Teluk Wondama Regency has launched a program to assist a fishery resource survey group in the Sasi area in Menarbu Village, Teluk Wondama Regency, West Papua since sasi was implemented in 2020.

Members of the Sasi Management Group as well as the Pokmaswas of Menarbu Village attended training on survey techniques and monitoring of fish resources in the sasi area of Menarbu Village waters

This survey and monitoring activity was carried out for four days from 24-27 May 2023 in the sasi area of Menarbu Village, especially coral reef habitat as well as a socio-economic survey of fishermen. The activity began with the presentation of brief material by Adrian Jentowa from the University of Papua. Adrian explained the type of data to be collected and the technique of collecting data on fish resources for the nine Menarbu village sasi monitoring team. Then through online Feronika Manohas from WWF Indonesia presented the technicalities of filling out the questionnaire and gathering information related to sasi fisheries management policy makers.

Surveys and monitoring of fish resources in Menarbu Village were carried out in 2019 and 2020. According to Adrian experts from the Science Program for Conservation of LPPM UNIPA, the results of the previous year's sasi survey showed that the level of live coral in Menarbu was at a moderate level with an average percentage of 49.55% live coral. From the 2019 and 2020 data collection, 61 species of economically important reef fish were recorded from 28 genera and 17 families and some of them are indicator fish for healthy waters such as Napoleon fish, bomphead fish, reef sharks and hawksbill turtles.

Assistance for surveys and monitoring of fish resources in the sasi area of Menarbu Village to record fish, coral reefs, sea grass and mega benthos

From the 2019 and 2020 mega benthos data collection, 20 species of mega benthos were found divided into 4 families; holothuridae, tridacnidae, palinuridae, Trochidae and 11 genera ( Holothuridae, Bohadschia, Pearsonothuria, Thelenota, Stichopus, Tridacna, Hippopus, Panuliru, Trochus and Pinctada ). In general, the resources in the coral reef waters in the Menarbu sasi area in 2019 and 2020 are still healthy and good for various important biota. According to him, the current condition of fisheries is also quite good. The current survey results are still in the process of data processing, so the status of the condition of the fishery cannot yet be presented.

This activity was welcomed by the Menarbu village community. "We ourselves took part in observing the condition of our fisheries at the survey location and the results were very large with the naked eye, this is very good, we really support the survey activities carried out by the Fisheries Service, GEF 6 and all who support us. In the future we will be more focused and ready to protect our sasi area,” said Yohanes Ayamiseba, Head of the Menarbu Village sasi management group on the sidelines of survey activities.