Yot Laut dan Yot Ikan Tembang

Geographically, the Indigenous Community of Loor Labay resides in an area characterized by Coastal and Sea topography. This geographical background has influenced the traditions and local wisdom of the Indigenous Community of Loor Labay since ancient times. The Indigenous Community of Loor Lobay also relies on marine resources for their livelihoods. Therefore, the practice of Yot or sasi is carried out as a form of adaptation and management of their marine resources. Additionally, this practice continues to be performed to maintain social ties because during the opening of sasi, the entire community, including those from different regions, also participates.

Yot or Sasi is a cultural practice that has existed since the law of Larvul Ngabal—an indigenous law held by the Kei Islands community in Southeast Maluku. Yot Laut and Yot Ikan Tembang are traditional marine resource management systems implemented by the Indigenous Community of Loor Lobay. Yot Laut is a local knowledge-based marine management system that establishes rules and prohibitions to protect marine ecosystems such as Sea Cucumbers, Batu Laga, and Coral Reefs. Meanwhile, Yot Ikan Tembang is a management system to protect the Tembang fish species to ensure that the number of incoming fish increases and to ensure the sustainability of the Tembang fish population.

The practice of Yot Ikan Tembang is carried out by allowing small Tembang fish to live freely, and the community is prohibited from catching the fish. Then, when the time for opening sasi arrives, the fish will be caught together after the sasi process has been conducted for approximately 3 months. Not only the village community can utilize the fish catch, but neighboring villages are also allowed to take the fish. Meanwhile, Yot Laut is conducted to protect marine resources every year with an open-close system. The opening of sasi usually takes place in October, as October is the time of lowest tide in the Kei Islands, commonly referred to as “Meti Kei.” The process of opening and closing sasi begins with a customary meeting to determine the timing of the sasi implementation. The highest decision-making authority regarding the implementation of sasi is held by the Rat or King. The Rat serves as the leader of the customary meeting for the establishment of sasi, known as Maduwun Teen Yaan.

The implementation process of Yot Laut and Yot Ikan Tembang begins with the Rat consulting with the Saniri. Then, the Rat instructs the Merinyo (the person responsible for making announcements) to announce the establishment of Yot/sasi. However, if there are community members who object, they will be given 1-2 days to continue taking marine resources. After that, the installation of Hawear (a sign of sasi made from white coconut leaves) is carried out. The mechanism for establishing Yot/sasi begins with a customary ritual of bringing offerings or betel leaves conducted by the Jamco clan (as the first inhabitants of Ohoi Werka or referred to as the landowners). Then, it is brought and placed at Woma or the village center. The placement of offerings or betel leaves is led directly by the Rat and followed by the installation of Hawear to indicate the location where sasi is conducted by the Renleew clan (the clan entitled to install sasi Laut).

In the supervision process during Yot/sasi, the entire community participates. If this rule is violated, customary sanctions/fines will be imposed in the form of: 1 piece of lela (a cannon from the Dutch/Portuguese), 3 tails of customary gold (earrings, bracelets, and necklaces), clothing and fabric, as well as a fine of 5 million rupiah. Clothing and garments are included in the fine because they are considered to have stripped Ohoi Werka of its dignity for not adhering to the established rules; if the fine is not fulfilled, it can result in the violator falling ill or even dying if not resolved immediately. If someone violates sasi and is known by the community, it will be reported to the Ohoi government, and the one who reports and catches the violation will receive a portion of the fine set, which is 1/2 of the total fine imposed, while the remaining 1/2 will be used as the Ohoi treasury.

The Hawear is decided to be opened if there are community members who see Tembang fish and other marine resources that are in the process of sasi and are of suitable size to be taken. Then, a customary meeting will be held again for the process of opening sasi. The opening of sasi is also carried out with a series of customary processes, beginning with a ritual of bringing offerings or betel leaves conducted by the Jamco clan, followed by the removal of Hawear carried out by the Renleeuw clan.

The Indigenous Community of Loor Lobay has a system of dividing marine areas based on depth levels:

1. Ruar Met Soin is the dry area at the highest low tide.

2. Met is the area of the lowest low tide during the highest low tide season.

3. Hangar Soin is the shallow sea that never dries.

4. Nuhun Soin is the sea that reaches a depth of 100 m. This area is usually designated as the boundary of the sea that is Yot/Sasi.

5. Faraun is the area reaching a depth of 200 m.

6. Tahit ni Wear is the open ocean area.

The practices of Yot Laut and Yot Ikan Tambang carried out by the Indigenous Community of Loor Lobay contribute to the preservation of marine ecosystems and biodiversity. Yot/sasi aims to protect marine resources such as Tembang fish, Mangroves, Lola, Sea Cucumbers, and Batu Laga. From the time the Hawear is installed until it is removed, these marine organisms can grow and reproduce well without threats from human activities, so that when the Hawear is removed, the marine resources obtained are abundant.

Yot/sasi also plays a role in raising awareness among the community to better protect and conserve marine resources. With the implementation of Yot/sasi rules along with the sanctions contained within, the community has guidelines for utilizing existing marine resources, how, and when to wisely utilize those resources. The Indigenous Community of Loor Lobay believes that the Yot/Sasi system in their ancestral territory will play an important role in conserving marine resources while preserving traditions that have been practiced since ancient times by their ancestors.

According to Mr. Raja Werka, J.P Reneut, this reinforces the identity and recognition of the existence of the Lor Lobay kingdom located in Ohoi Werka. Additionally, when sasi is opened or the Hawear is removed, the community and neighbors will come together to utilize marine resources. In this way, indirectly, Yot/Sasi plays a role in enhancing kinship, harmony, and mutual respect.

The practice of managing Sasi by the Indigenous Community of Loor Lobay has been established through the Mayor Regulation of Tual Number 22 of 2020 as Local Wisdom of the Indigenous Law Community in the Management and Protection of Marine Resources in Tual City. Furthermore, the customary institution of the Indigenous Community of Loor Lobay has been regulated in the Regional Regulation of Tual City Number 03 of 2020.