“Sasi”: A New Path to Sustain Seaweed Farming From Up-Stream to Down-Stream in Kotania Bay, Molucass

This article describes how seaweed farming is one of the primary livelihoods in the West Ceram Regency. This activity has been done by the local people and others since 2006. However, the competition over land use between the cultivators of the seaweed, groupers, and fishermen have caused declining seaweed production. Semi-structured interviews, in-depth interviews and participant observations were conducted with seaweed farmers, fishermen catch, grouper farmers, and the government (Marine and Fisheries Department) (n = 83) in three villages. An in-depth interview with seaweed farmers was performed to deepen the understanding of the working conditions and related problems. One way to resolve the seaweed farmers problem in Kotania Bay is by applying Molucass local wisdom, named sasi. Sasi is applied at the time of planting seaweed and called “Tutup Sasi” and called “Buka Sasi” at harvesting with Kewang control. Finally, the article concludes that the use of “sasi” can manage the competition and resolve conflict, ensure continued business, increase efficiency and provide equity resource management.