The Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (KKP), in collaboration with the Fisheries Office of Eastern Seram Regency (SBT), Maluku Province, organized a basic diving training program for Civil Servants (ASN) and Community Supervisory Groups (Pokmaswas). This was the second training program facilitated through the GEF-6 CFI Indonesia grant, following a previous session in Southeast Maluku Regency.

Community involvement in this training is part of GEF-6's effort to develop the Sasi Co-Management concept for preserving underwater ecosystems. The program aims to create village-level champions who understand the benefits of basic diving knowledge. These individuals will be encouraged to recognize the marine ecosystem in their area and support the preservation of Sasi Laut, a traditional marine conservation practice, in their villages.

Sasi is a customary regulation that prohibits harvesting marine resources for a certain period to ensure sustainability due to limited availability. Coastal villages in Maluku, including those in SBT Regency, generally have their own Sasi (ngam) regulations. However, data recording on marine biota remains very limited. With diving skills, local communities can better identify and assess marine biodiversity and availability, particularly at depths that are unsafe for free diving.

This training was attended by 15 participants, consisting of 7 civil servants (3 participants from Fisheries Office, 1 participant from Environmental Agency, 1 participant from Civil Service Police Unit (Satpol PP), 1 participant from Village Consultative Body (BPD), and 1 participant from Provincial Fisheries Branch Office of Island Cluster IV) and 8 fishermen from the Community Supervisory Groups (Pokmaswas) in Eastern Seram District. The training was led by three instructors from the Association of Diving School International (ADSI), under the leadership of Jan Manuputty.

“We hope that through this training, the community and civil servants will acquire better diving skills, making it easier for them to map their marine areas and understand the health status of marine ecosystems and biota. This knowledge will serve as a reference for future fisheries resource management policies and implementation,” said Jahdy Marasabessy, S.Pi., M.Si., Head of the Fisheries Office of SBT Regency.

The participants expressed their appreciation for the training. Ansar Lamadi, a participant from Mar Hamlet, Eastern Seram District, stated that he gained new knowledge on diving with an air tank and using equipment such as BCD and Regulator. He also shared that, under the guidance of ADSI diving instructors, he successfully dived up to 30 meters deep.

All participants who passed the training received certificates issued by ADSI.