Indonesia is recognized as one of the world’s megadiverse countries. Its natural wealth includes approximately 31,750 plant species and more than 744,000 animal species distributed across terrestrial, coastal, and marine ecosystems. Among these ecosystems, mangrove forests serve as a critical safeguard for coastal environments while providing habitat for thousands of marine species with high ecological and economic value.

Indonesia hosts approximately 3.44 million hectares of mangroves or about 20–30 percent of the world’s total mangrove coverage. These ecosystems not only protect coastlines from erosion and storm impacts but also function as essential habitats for fish, shrimp, and mangrove crabs that sustain the livelihoods of millions of coastal communities.

In Southeast Maluku Regency, mangrove crabs have long served as a primary source of income for local communities. Strong market demand, particularly for export markets, has positioned this commodity as a key driver of the local economy. However, increasing fishing pressure has raised concerns regarding the long-term sustainability of wild crab stocks.

To address these challenges, the Global Environment Facility (GEF-6) Coastal Fisheries Initiative (CFI) Indonesia promotes sustainable mangrove crab fisheries management in Hoat Sorbay Bay through an integrated approach combining community participation, scientific evidence, and local wisdom.

A key initiative involves strengthening collaboration among local government authorities, fishers, researchers, and WWF-Indonesia through the Mangrove Crab Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) Working Group. This collaboration aims to support the process of obtaining MSC certification as a global standard for sustainable fisheries.

This approach is reinforced by scientific studies that demonstrate the need for more precautionary stock management. Research findings presented by Kamaluddin Kasim indicate that the giant mangrove crab (Scylla serrata) population remains relatively stable, while the orange mangrove crab (Scylla olivacea) shows signs of population decline due to harvesting before reaching reproductive maturity.

Stock assessments conducted between 2020 and 2024 revealed that the biomass of S. olivacea has fallen below precautionary biological limits. These findings form the basis for the development of science-based management strategies, including minimum legal-size regulations, protection of berried females, spatial fishing restrictions, and recommended annual catch limits.

These measures were formalized within a Harvest Strategy and Harvest Control Rule framework to ensure the sustainable use of resources.

Beyond governance strengthening, GEF-6 CFI Indonesia also enhances community capacity through technical training on the Crab Bank approach implemented in Evu Village, Hoat Sorbay Bay. The program introduces an innovative approach to mangrove crab management based on a simple yet powerful philosophy: treating nature as a “bank of life.”

Through the Crab Bank concept, fishers are encouraged not only to harvest marine resources but also to invest in future stock sustainability. The training activities introduced three key technologies—Crab House, Crab Shelter, and Crab Cage—which support the release of undersized crabs and berried females back into their natural habitats while improving crab quality prior to market sale.

This approach is considered capable of safeguarding crab stocks whilst increasing the economic value of fishers’ catches. Furthermore, the Crab Bank scheme also plays a vital role in supporting the MSC eco-labelling process currently being pursued in Southeast Maluku.

Going beyond capacity development efforts, GEF-6 CFI Indonesia, together with local communities and government authorities, facilitated the establishment of a locally managed mangrove crab protection area in Ohoi Evu. The mangrove zone functions as a core conservation area for releasing non-compliant catches as well as a natural spawning and nursery ground.

These measures are reinforced through Evu Village Regulation No. 1/2018 governing mangrove crab utilization in Hoat Sorbay Bay. The regulation establishes minimum catch sizes, production quotas, monitoring mechanisms, and enforcement measures. Notably, several local provisions are even stricter than national regulations.

Community-based fisheries management success in Southeast Maluku is closely linked to the traditional practice of sasi, a customary resource management system passed down through generations.

Under sasi, communities temporarily close specific areas or resources to allow ecosystems time to recover. The system operates through customary agreements, collective monitoring, and social compliance within the community. For Maluku communities, sasi represents not only an ecological management tool but also an integral part of cultural and spiritual of their coastal communities.

Today, sasi practices in Southeast Maluku and Eastern Seram Regency are being identified as potential Other Effective Area-Based Conservation Measures (OECMs)— international recognition of indigenous community-based conservation areas that have proven effective in safeguarding biodiversity.

This approach demonstrates that conservation does not always require fully centralized or formal models. Local knowledge and customary governance systems can serve as powerful foundations for maintaining ecological balance while enhancing community well-being.

The International Day for Biological Diversity serves as an important reminder that environmental stewardship begins at the local level. From the sasi tradition to the Crab Bank innovation, coastal communities in Maluku demonstrate that local wisdom and scientific approaches can work hand in hand.

Healthy mangrove ecosystems and sustainable mangrove crab populations are not only about protecting species; they are about safeguarding the livelihoods of coastal communities for future generations. Through collaboration among GEF-6 CFI Indonesia, local governments, Indigenous communities, academia, and fishers, Indonesia once again shows that local action can generate meaningful global conservation impact.

Words by Ahadar Tuhuteru and Marsha Maritza.

CFI Indonesia, through the GEF-6 grant titled "The Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries Management (EAFM) in Eastern Indonesia (Fisheries Management Area - FMA 715, 717, & 718) Components A, B, and D", is a collaboration between Indonesia’s Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) as the implementing agency and the WWF GEF Agency as the managing institution. This initiative, which began on December 23, 2019, and is scheduled for completion on December 31, 2026, aims to strengthen sustainable coastal fisheries management in the FMA 715, 717, and 718 regions.

CFI Indonesia promotes sustainable mangrove crab fisheries management in Southeast Maluku through an integrated approach that combines scientific research, community participation, and local wisdom such as sasi. By strengthening collaboration among government, fishers, researchers, and WWF-Indonesia, the initiative supports science-based harvest management, mangrove protection, and the innovative Crab Bank approach to ensure long-term stock sustainability while improving coastal livelihoods. This model demonstrates how biodiversity conservation and community welfare can advance together through locally driven and sustainable fisheries practices.