PHYSICAL LIMITATIONS ARE NO BARRIER TO PROTECTING THE OCEAN
It seems that there is no human being in this world who wants to be born imperfect. Everyone hopes to be born with a normal physical condition. However, we cannot ask to be born according to what we want. Such was the experience of Muhamad Palahidu or Wama, a fisherman from Labuan Village, Seram Utara Barat District. There is no other way but to be grateful and prove that living with abnormal conditions is also capable of being like normal people.
Wama was born with a physical limitation on his left leg, making him unable to walk normally. The physical condition experienced since he was 6 months old did not make his confidence diminish. Instead, the limitations he has become a motivation to get up and be independent to be able to make his small family happy.
"I am motivated by myself, because from my fishing income I can support a wife and two children who are still in school," explained Wama. His face is so cheerful, his enthusiasm for life is so explosive that it does not dampen his spirit to continue to scavenge for sustenance from the sea, which he has been doing for 15 years. Wama is assisted by a small bicycle that becomes his daily companion to help him move from home to the beach before going to sea.
Going to sea is a challenge for Wama, he once experienced an incident that almost took his own life. Despite this, he still chooses to go to sea because this job as a fisherman is all he can do. "Every day I leave for the sea at around 5am and return home erratically, sometimes in the morning, afternoon or evening, depending on the catch," he explains. Wama usually fishes around Pulau Tujuh, which is included in the prospective area of the Coastal and Small Island Conservation Area (KKP3K) of Serutbar Small Island Park (Seram Utara and Seram Utara Barat). The type of fish he catches varies, from demersal fish, small pelagic fish, to large pelagic fish, sometimes he accidentally catches turtle and shark species (bycatch).
Most of the people of Labuan Village work as fishermen, so if the surrounding waters contain species of animals that are included in the category of rare, endangered and protected animals or ETP (Endangered, Threatened and Protected), (Endangered, Threatened and Protected), then fishermen have a high chance of interacting directly with these marine animals, in this case the findings in the field such as hammerhead sharks (Sphyrna lewini), types of turtles including hawksbill turtles (Eretmochelys imbricata), Olive Ridley turtles (Lepidochelys olivacea) and turtle eggs.
Regulations related to protected species have been written in the Regulation of the Indonesian Minister of Environment and Forestry Number P.106/MENLHK/SETJEN/KUM.1/12/2018 concerning protected plant and animal species. Not all coastal communities know and understand the existence of the law. WWF-Indonesia as the implementing partner of the USAID Sustainable Ecosystems Advanced (USAID SEA) Project in collaboration with the government and local communities conducted daily data collection of capture fisheries. In this process, the WWF-Indonesia enumerator team also provided an understanding to the community about the regulations and the importance of protected ETP species in the form of written and oral delivery.
"I used to catch turtles and sharks to eat and share with my neighbors. I did not know that it was protected. After WWF-Indonesia activities, I began to realize and know that it is forbidden to catch, now I understand better that not only turtles and sharks are protected, but there are many other marine animals such as dugongs, rays, whales and others. It's good that we were given the information in the form of posters so that it is easier to understand," explained Wama.
The utilization of ETP species has started to decrease. Another example is the collection of turtle eggs on Tujuh Island. Wama actively carries out his role as a fisherman who cares about protected marine animals by directly conveying to the community to reduce the consumption of sea turtle eggs. Based on findings in the field, at one time, the collection of turtle eggs can reach 100 eggs. "Currently, this activity has begun to decrease. Some people in Labuan Village have begun to realize that turtle eggs are prohibited for consumption and also because they are harmful to health," explained Wama.
Verbal awareness of ETP species to the community and fishermen in Labuan Village still has to be improved, WWF-Indonesia together with Pokmaswas (Community Supervisory Group) North Coast in Labuan Village will conduct socialization, poster distribution and billboard installation about ETP species in Labuan Village. So that Wama, the fishermen and the community in Labuan Village can know the protected marine animals and understand how important it is to maintain the sustainability of marine resources in the Serutbar Marine Protected Area.