Areal Tangkap Gurita

The Torosiaje village was formed starting in 1901, and the village has been inhabited by the majority of the Bajo tribe. The name Torosiaje comes from the Bajo language, where Toro means Cape and Siaje means Stopover, while in the Bugis language it means: “Koro Siajeku” which translates to there our brother. Over time, this word has undergone distortion in its pronunciation, so it is now called Torosiaje. The location of the Torosiaje village was once a stopover for Bajo people. Gradually, some Bajo people began to build stilt houses made from mangrove.

The Torosiaje village became a definitive village in 1960 led by a village head named Ibrahim Tahutu Pakaya. Before the era of regional autonomy, this village was part of Gorontalo Regency. In 1999, Gorontalo Regency was divided into 2 regencies and Torosiaje Village became part of Boalemo Regency. In subsequent developments, in 2004, Boalemo Regency was divided again and Torosiaje Village became part of Pohuwato Regency. Since 2005, Torosiaje village has been divided into 2 administrative areas, namely Torosiaje Village located on land or referred to as the “Torosiaje Darat” community (currently named Torosiaje Jaya), and Torosiaje Village located in the waters (sea), which is better known by the community as “Torosiaje Laut”.

The initiative to form a Community Managed Conservation Area was agreed upon together by the elements of the Torosiaje Village community by collaborating with non-governmental organizations. The community elements consisting of fishermen, community leaders, religious leaders, customary leaders, pokmaswas, fish collectors, youth organizations, village government, and BPD encourage that the AKKM initiative of Torosiaje Village can be discussed and proposed soon.

The AKKM initiative was driven by the awareness of community elements regarding environmental issues that can affect the social and economic life of the community and the customary traditions of Torosiaje Village. For example, the decline in catch due to damage in coastal and marine areas. This is a result of environmentally unfriendly fishing activities and the potential expansion of shrimp farming in coastal areas that puts pressure on mangrove forests.

In the history of the establishment of Torosiaje Village, several conservation programs have been implemented involving both government and non-governmental institutions. The conservation programs mostly target the improvement of mangrove forest ecosystems. Some roles of government/non-government institutions include;

• The River Basin Management Agency (BPDAS) which plays a role in rehabilitating mangrove forests covering an area of 70 hectares.
• SUSCLAM (Sustainable Coastal Livelihoods and Management) by rehabilitating mangroves covering an area of 2 hectares.
• Japesda (Network for Advocacy of Natural Resource Management) which provides assistance for octopus fisheries to fishermen, advocates for policies, and empowers household economies.
• Birds of Indonesia – Japesda carry out Sustainable Development and Mangrove Conservation programs in Tomini Bay. Both institutions play a role in assisting the development governance in Torosiaje Village through strengthening mangrove ecosystem governance and identifying potential livelihood sources based on mangrove ecosystems.
• Bank Indonesia Gorontalo Representative plays a role in providing training and assistance for tools for food product businesses managed by the Sipakullong group (octopus fishermen group).

The Octopus Catch Area in Torosiaje Village is part of the marine area. Torosiaje Village consists of coastal and marine areas. In the marine area of Torosiaje Village, fishermen utilize it for fishing activities such as catching octopus, sea cucumbers, and coral reef rehabilitation locations. There is one location that serves as the site of the customary flagpole, which is part of the ritual to ward off evil. This customary flagpole location is situated at the front of the Torosiaje Village settlement facing the open sea.

In the marine area consisting of coral reefs, fishermen catch fish and octopus. Fishing is done in certain seasons using traditional fishing gear. In this area, fishermen still have access to management as long as they do not engage in prohibited fishing practices such as using destructive fishing gear, bombs, and narcotics.

Torosiaje Village has management rules, especially for flagship commodities aimed at improving the economy while considering the sustainability of natural resources. The management of flagship fisheries such as octopus fisheries is regulated through Village Regulation of Torosiaje Number 2 of 2022 concerning Community-Based Octopus Fisheries Management. Another regulation is about the protection of village nature, which includes mangrove areas, coasts, seas, plantations, and settlements. The creation of protection regulations is done participatively by involving various community elements while considering potential issues and solutions that can be implemented to resolve problems.

Customary law is also agreed upon to be applied by the Torosiaje Village community, which consists of oral regulations agreed upon by all members of the Torosiaje village community, including:

Prohibition for Bajo residents to leave their homes during the ritual to ward off evil (Masoro) except for the sandro (shaman or the person performing the customary ritual).

Residents who cut down 1 mangrove tree are required to replace it with 100 trees and there will be no customary rituals for the families of violators. Violations in the mangrove area may be subject to customary sanctions according to the level of violation, such as paying fines and being prohibited from leaving their homes for a specified period determined by the customary leader. The fines are decided through a resolution mechanism by deliberation and re-agreement on the management of resources that are still within the Torosiaje village area with representatives from neighboring village communities.

In the octopus catch area located in the sea area, there is also biodiversity (kehati) that lives and develops, including;

Fauna :

• Book Fish (Limbogor)
• Dove Fish (Suwalala)
• Beard Fish (Timbungan)
• Bobara Fish (Baddo’)
• Goropa Fish (Kiyapu)
• Katamba
• Chatty Fish (Banguppi)
• Ray Fish (Pay)
• Spanish Mackerel (Tangiri)
• Shark (Kareo)
• Board Lolosi Fish (Kambule)
• Bottle Lolosi Fish (Londou)
• Skipjack Tuna (Turinga)
• Squid (Kenda)
• Stonefish (Kalabutang)
• Sandalwood
• Lobster (Kalora)
• Sea Cucumber (Bala)
• Kaneke
• Baronang Fish (Berra’)
• Parrot Fish (Mogo’)
• Sori Fish (Timbalowa)
• Flying Fish (Tutuwe)
• Tarpaulin Fish (Kumei)
• Lodi
• Palihe Fish (Malela’)
• Sardine Fish (Temba’)
• Tolotu Fish (Pangaluang)
• Sea Mullet (Banda’)
• Oci Fish (Tando Tulai)
• Ruma-ruma Fish (Ruruma)
• Buna,
• Goruwo Fish (Bonte)
• Snapper (Bambangan)
• Aha-ang
• Daya Mano
• Pipiso
• Pilangan
• Bulewes
• Octopus (Kutta)

In the seagrass area, there are various species of sea cucumbers including:

• Black Milk Sea Cucumber
• White Milk Sea Cucumber
• White Sand Sea Cucumber
• Red Sea Cucumber
• Black Sea Cucumber
• Ring Sea Cucumber
• Stone Sea Cucumber
• Lotong Sea Cucumber
• Pineapple Sea Cucumber
• Cat's Eye Sea Cucumber
• Gama Sea Cucumber

There are currently no specific regulations governing the recognition of customary areas in Torosiaje. By 2025, there will only be village regulations governing the utilization of superior commodities, namely octopus, through Village Regulation of Torosiaje Number 2 of 2022 concerning Community-Based Octopus Fisheries Management. However, the community is making various efforts including prohibiting the use of hazardous materials and the use of fishing gear that damages coastal and marine ecosystems, maximizing the socialization of the prohibition on the use of bombs and potassium in fishing, including creating information boards for prohibitions, and encouraging the village government, namely the Head of Torosiaje Village and BPD Torosiaje to draft a Village Regulation on Coastal and Marine Ecosystem Management, which includes all natural resources, such as mangrove areas, coral reefs, and other biodiversity.