Maluku and West Papua are two eastern most provinces in Indonesian archipelago. Maluku is also called one thousand-island province. Coastal communities living in this region have certain local wisdoms in protecting coral reef environment which has been their source of food for hundreds of years.
Similar to traditional fishermen in other countries, local fishermen in Maluku and West Papua use wooden boat to go to the sea. They call it perahu or kole-kole. To propel the boat, they use wooden paddle and plaited sail from pandanus leaves. Now, a more durable material like plastic tarpaulin is used.
Shallow water fish are caught using kalawai. It is a four pointed spear which is thrust or thrown at the fish. Hook and line is also used to catch fish in deep water.
Shallow water fish are caught using kalawai. It is a four pointed spear which is thrust or thrown at the fish. Hook and line is also used to catch fish in deep water.
Another unique way in catching coral fish is trapping. Here, fishermen use fish trap called bubu. It is made of plaited rattan or bamboo. The bubu can have a diameter of up to 50 centimeters with a length of up to 1 meter. At one end, there is a cone-shaped hole where fish enter but cannot come out. When they try, they will hit sharp bamboos which pointing inward. Usually, the bubu is placed between three and ten meters underwater among the coral reefs. It takes one to three days to fill the bubu with many fish.
To attract squid to schooling around a fishermen's boat, the fishermen use torch. At first the light is made bigger. When more fish have gathered, they will lessen the light and begin bailing the squid with a small bucket starting from the darker side of the schooling squid. The squid do not realize that they are being drawn out of water.
The Moluccan villagers also have a special traditional regulation aiming at preventing or limiting certain area from overfishing. The locals call it Sasi. It is a traditional conservation system. When certain waters is under Sasi, it becomes a temporarily no take zone that controls fish stock. Sasi is regularly applied to endangered species such as lompa fish (thrissina baelama), trochus niloticus.
Sasi is started and ended with traditional ceremonies. The rituals are led by village chief and his staff. For endangered species such us bia lola (trochus niloticus), the period of Sasi is between one and two years. To enforce the sasi law, the villagers appoint a kewang, a traditional police who supervises the waters or land that is under sasi. He and village staff can fine anybody who violates the sasi law.
Thonny Mansiraken Krey, a prominent West Papuan artist, has written many books about folk stories, art styles, images, symbols, decoration and ornaments that are related to Geelvink bay islanders. He paints, he writes, he read stories in local radios, he decorates homes and government buildings with sculptures, he teaches students everyday.
To attract squid to schooling around a fishermen's boat, the fishermen use torch. At first the light is made bigger. When more fish have gathered, they will lessen the light and begin bailing the squid with a small bucket starting from the darker side of the schooling squid. The squid do not realize that they are being drawn out of water.
The Moluccan villagers also have a special traditional regulation aiming at preventing or limiting certain area from overfishing. The locals call it Sasi. It is a traditional conservation system. When certain waters is under Sasi, it becomes a temporarily no take zone that controls fish stock. Sasi is regularly applied to endangered species such as lompa fish (thrissina baelama), trochus niloticus.
Sasi is started and ended with traditional ceremonies. The rituals are led by village chief and his staff. For endangered species such us bia lola (trochus niloticus), the period of Sasi is between one and two years. To enforce the sasi law, the villagers appoint a kewang, a traditional police who supervises the waters or land that is under sasi. He and village staff can fine anybody who violates the sasi law.
Thonny Mansiraken Krey, a prominent West Papuan artist, has written many books about folk stories, art styles, images, symbols, decoration and ornaments that are related to Geelvink bay islanders. He paints, he writes, he read stories in local radios, he decorates homes and government buildings with sculptures, he teaches students everyday.
In his works, he showed how the Papuan islanders are closely attached to marine environment. The sea has been their source of food, the place where they grew up. Although some of his works have been published by Stichting Duurzame Samenleving Papua Barat, many of his works are still in manuscripts. West Papuan people are facing population pressure. Every year thousands of migrants are coming into Papua land. Sooner or later Papuan will become minority in their own land. Such situation will bring deep changes in Papuan culture and identity.
Mr. Krey said that islanders of Geelvink or Cendrawasih bay do not eat certain species of endangered fish such as dolphins or turtles. They believe that their ancestors were from these fish. Perhaps, they do not know the theory of evolution or Charles Darwin. What they know is that if they eat or kill the fish, their villages will face misfortunes. This kind of believes have indirectly protected endangered species from extinction, maintained the balance of marine ecosystem.
Mr. Krey said that islanders of Geelvink or Cendrawasih bay do not eat certain species of endangered fish such as dolphins or turtles. They believe that their ancestors were from these fish. Perhaps, they do not know the theory of evolution or Charles Darwin. What they know is that if they eat or kill the fish, their villages will face misfortunes. This kind of believes have indirectly protected endangered species from extinction, maintained the balance of marine ecosystem.
Through this writing, I appeal to any philanthropists to help this artist to bring his manuscripts into publications that will help hand over this valuable marine related culture to future generations. In his old age, Thonny Mansiraken Krey devotes his time writing. His address is
Jalan Pasir Putih No. 83
Kwawi, Manokwari,
West Papua, Indonesia
Mobile: +62 852 44 7680 18
I personally talked to him one year ago. I saw thousands of pages of art designs, ornaments, symbols, stories, and books that he made. They are awesome waiting for somebody to help him publish them. Western World do not know him. For me, he is not only a prolific artist, a historian, a story teller, a painter, a designer, a sculptor – he is a real Papuan who loves his land, and his people.
All photos of marine artworks in this article were made by West Papuan artist, Thonny Mansiraken krey
Jalan Pasir Putih No. 83
Kwawi, Manokwari,
West Papua, Indonesia
Mobile: +62 852 44 7680 18
I personally talked to him one year ago. I saw thousands of pages of art designs, ornaments, symbols, stories, and books that he made. They are awesome waiting for somebody to help him publish them. Western World do not know him. For me, he is not only a prolific artist, a historian, a story teller, a painter, a designer, a sculptor – he is a real Papuan who loves his land, and his people.
All photos of marine artworks in this article were made by West Papuan artist, Thonny Mansiraken krey
