Research Framework Selection of Study Sites

Chapter 3 Research Methodology

A research methodology is presented in this chapter. It explains the research framework and the consideration of selecting five small islands for this study, followed by the data collection methods employed. Finally, analytical methods are described.

3.1 Research Framework

This study uses an institutional approach. This approach assumes that individuals trying to solve problems as effectively as they can. Resource users, i.e. fishers, in many settings are strongly motivated to find better solutions to their problems if they can. Their economic livelihood depends on their creativity in solving individual and joint problems Ostrom 1990. A comparative case study presents the best method for an institutional approach, especially for the study of common-pool resources Agrawal 2001: 1663. By using this method, the study can identify the important causal mechanisms and focus the range of relevant theoretical variables and their interactions. The comparison is based on successful and unsuccessful cases, and the study tries to identify the internal and external factors that can impede or enhance the capabilities of individuals to use and govern coral reef resource use Figure 9. Figure 9 Factors affecting common-pool resource use. Source: Dolšak and Ostrom 2003. Resource characteristics Economic environment Political environment Legal environment Technology Characteristics of resource users Institutions governing resource use Resource use The boundary of research is limited to the island fisher communities selected. This is intended to elicit the social capital of these communities with regard to coral reef resource use. Consequently, the resource boundary is restricted to those resources or fishing grounds where the studied fisher communities are used.

3.2 Selection of Study Sites

The case studies must be carefully selected, so that comparisons of the range of relevant theoretical variables and their interactions can be carried out. The criteria of selection are as follows: 1. The island fisher communities are situated in coral reef resources and dependent upon reef fishery. 2. The communities had experienced investment in social capital. They had been receiving externally-input assistance from NGOs, universities andor a national program for around a decade. The activities included promoting community’s awareness on coastal and marine conservation and environmentally friendly resource use, convening community and fisher meetings, training of fishers and local leaders, promoting credit union, introducing mariculture and other income generating activities, establishing marine sanctuary, and initiating community monitoring. These activities are regarded as building or investment of social capital. As clarified in Chapter 2, investment in social capital can be promoted in three different methods, namely promoting network or stakeholders’ interactions, encouraging capacity building for fishers, and supporting for fishing organizations Berkes 2006; Folke et al. 2005; Grafton 2005; Isham 2001; Rudd 2001; Pomeroy and Berkes 1997. The activities of the externally-input assistance were disseminating particular norms, as well as promoting interactions among fishers and between fishers and other stakeholders. Regular engagements can build norms of reciprocity and trust. 3. The communities located in similar socio-cultural background and formal institutions. The next criterion of selection is based on a comparison of a couple of indicators of the success of coral reef resource use carried out by the island community, that is 1 protection of the community marine sanctuary, 2 non- existent destructive-fishing practices i.e. using explosives and poisons to catch fish. These success indicators are considered to represent a good institutional arrangement of fisher communities that enable individuals to achieve productive outcome in situations where temptations to free-ride and shirk are ever present Ostrom 1990: 15. Based on the above criteria and the preliminary information from the key- person interviews carried out during first data collection in 2004 on the characteristics and two success indicators of many candidate islands, the study determined successful and unsuccessful cases of fisher communities that have experienced investment in social capital Table 7; Figure 10. Table 7 Case studies Criteria Spermonde archipelago Taka Bonerate MNP Successful Kapoposang Rajuni Besar, Rajuni Kecil Community sanctuary N.A. Protected Destructive fishing Not present or very small Mostly non- destructive Unsuccessful Barrang Caddi Tarupa Community sanctuary Protected Not protected Destructive fishing Half fishers practice destructive fishing Destructive fishing was proliferated Some characteristics of the study sites are presented in Table 8. These islands cannot meet the third parameter of selection mentioned above. They are differing in the formal institutional arrangements. Nevertheless, this difference can even generate better results. The study can show whether the different formal institutional arrangements influence fisher collective action and rules. Table 8 Characteristics of study sites Islands Characteristics Tarupa, Rajuni Kecil, Rajuni Besar Barrang Caddi Kapoposang Formal institutional arrangements Taka Bonerate Marine National Park – Kapoposang Tourism Marine Park Externally-input assistance ƒ COREMAP LP3M 1999-2004 ƒ EMDI LP3M 1993- 1999 ƒ FKB UNHAS 2003-present ƒ LP3M 1989-2000 ƒ YKL, LEMSA 2000-2002 ƒ Yasindo 1995-? ƒ LP3M 1995-1998 Geographical location and resource characteristic ƒ Remote, 6-8 hours from the district capital. ƒ Wealthy in fishery and coral reef resources. ƒ Rare visit by tourists. ƒ Only 1 hour from the provincial capital. ƒ Poor in fishery and coral reef resources. ƒ Remote, 6-8 hours from the provincial capital. ƒ Wealthy in fishery and coral reef resources. ƒ Regular visit by tourists. Figure 10 Location of study sites. Spermonde Archipelago Taka Bonerate Marine National Park Jakarta Kapoposang Barrang Caddi Tarupa Rajuni Kecil Rajuni Besar Spermonde Park Jakarta

3.3 Data Collection