How about the practice of managing natural resources based on local wisdom by the Moi people in Malaumkarta Village, Makbon District, Sorong Regency, West Papua? You’ve heard of it?

The people in Malaumkarta Village still maintain the traditions handed down by their ancestors in protecting nature. Local wisdom called egek.

In terms of meaning and utilization, egek and sasi have similarities. Egek is a traditional conservation effort in managing natural resources in the form of rules that prohibit or take something from nature within a certain period of time, both in the forest and at sea.

Not long ago, the people of Malaumkarta Village implemented egek in the sea area for shrimp, lobster, sea cucumber and lola commodities. According to Jefri Mobalen, Head of Malaumkarta Village, previously there had been problems of damage to the marine ecosystem in their area due to the use of fishing gear, since the 1990s.

It is on this basis that the community revives the egek tradition which has become part of the culture of the Moi tribe.

“Egek includes regulations on animal protection and fish harvesting. There is also a ban on destructive fishing gear, namely bombs, fish pushers, and nets. In addition, in the egek area we plant coral reefs and hatch turtles,” he said.

Customary Sanctions

If someone violates the egek, they will be subject to customary sanctions. Interestingly, apart from being supported by a religious institution in the form of a church, this egek practice has also received recognition from the local regional government through Sorong Regent Regulation Number 7 of 2017 concerning Customary Law and Local Wisdom in the Management and Protection of Marine Resources in Malaumkarta Village, Makbon District, Sorong Regency.

Jefri added, the results or economic value of egek can support economic needs and are also used for the common needs of the community in Malaumkarta Village.

For lobsters, the sale of the first phase of the results of egek on June 17 2022 was valued at 26.1 million Rupiah. Stage two sales on the same date, valued at 13.7 million Rupiah. Phase three sales on June 26, 2022, the result is 20.6 million rupiah.

Stage four sales on July 1, 2022, the result is 15.7 million rupiah. Meanwhile, the fifth phase of sales will be held on July 9, 2022, valued at 28.7 million rupiah.

“For sea cucumbers, which was the result of the last sale of egek on July 22, 2022, it was the highest, valued at 72.8 million Rupiah,” said Jefri.

Ecologically, it is very clear that egek practices are able to maintain the availability of sustainable natural resources. Safe fish stocks and protected marine ecosystems. While socio-culturally, traditional conservation is able to maintain cultural values ​​that are in harmony with nature.

“The benefits of this egek, one of which is to achieve our social goals, which is to be able to help build the Silo Malaumkarta church building,” said Jefri.