YKAN Provides Training to Support Regeneration of Women's "Sasi" Tradition Practitioners

Gianyar, Bali (ANTARA) - The Nature Conservancy Indonesia Foundation (YKAN) is providing several training sessions to mothers involved in the tradition and customary practice of sustainable natural resource management (“sasi”) for the seas of Southwest Papua Province, enabling them to regenerate the tradition for younger generations.

YKAN’s Marine Programme Manager, Hilda Lionata, stated that they are currently training these mothers over one year so that they can later become trainers for younger generations of women.

“Why is YKAN regenerating sasi? Because we feel that sasi aligns with nature conservation activities. Since it is already part of their blood and flesh, their custom, why not revive it,” said Hilda during the Women’s Sasi Group Learning Exchange from Three Villages in Raja Ampat Regency at Ubud Village, Gianyar Regency, Bali Province, on Friday.

In addition, she continued, YKAN is also providing other training, including boat and engine maintenance 101, free diving, monitoring (visual recording and line transect), and post-harvest handling for lobsters.

Among all the training, she said, several sessions provided by YKAN are to train the mothers to become trainers for new sasi groups in their villages (Training of Trainers, or ToT), such as 101 training on sea cucumbers and lobsters, and harvesting protocol training (related to sustainable size and methods, data collection on biodiversity and abundance).

“But specifically for this year, we want to consolidate the women first. Because we want to make them trainers. In the second year, they will go around to male groups and clan bases. They will teach, no longer YKAN,” she said.

On the same occasion, the Chair of the Sasi Practice Group from Aduwei Village, North Misool District, Raja Ampat Regency, Southwest Papua Province, Ribka Botot, admitted to being greatly helped by the training.

She assessed that regenerating the sasi tradition is very important to preserve the sea and the diversity of biota within it from excessive capture practices using destructive fishing gear.

“Don’t stop at this. But perhaps we can meet again like this, also sharing experiences. What Mama Ribka doesn’t know, through this Mama Ribka can learn, it’s okay to speak, ask about Mama Ribka’s experiences,” she said.