Panglima Laot: His Legacy and Role in Conserving Marine Resources in Aceh, Indonesia

Abstract

Abstract. This paper discusses the significance of a historical heritage and its practices based on local wisdom to develop sustainable marine resources in Aceh. Local wisdom can be translated through the examination of the significant role played by the Panglima Laot (Sea Commander) as the enforcer of the Customary Law of the sea in Aceh. This law exists since the glorious era of the Kingdom of Aceh from the 17th century. The role played by the Panglima Laot underlines local wisdom in managing and ensuring the sustainability of the seas, an important economic source for the coastal community in Aceh. The sea is the lifeblood of the Acehnese coastal communities. From a historical point of view, Panglima Laot played a major role in safeguarding and nurturing the sea for the benefits of marine activities and maintaining the marine environment and its natural state, as a common property that should not be destroyed for the good of the future. Panglima Laot also managed marine resources that can be exploited and empowers the population to undertake marine activities in accordance with the customary requirements and the interests of society as a whole. In ensuring the effectiveness of the functions, the role of Panglima Laot is strengthened by the existence of special rules concerning marine and fishing practices established for generations through Adat Laot (Aceh Customary of the sea) to ensure the longterm harmony and sustainability of Aceh's marine resources.

Panglima Laot: Safeguarding Indonesia's West Coastal Marine Resources through Local Wisdom in Aceh, Indonesia

“…Panglima Laot is a maritime cultural heritage from the Kingdom of Aceh and still exists as a pearl of local wisdom in coastal areas in Aceh to this day. According to Abdullah (2018), Panglima laot has existed since the Samudra Pasai Kingdom in the 14th century and was held in high esteem by Sultan Iskandar Muda (1607-1636). The moment that Panglima Laot's position was an extension of the sultan's hand in carrying out the two central answers which were not enough, namely collecting excise from merchant ships anchored in ports and gathering people for the benefit of sea wars is proof and a reflection that the Kingdom of Aceh is maritime.…”

Chances and Challenges of Local Wisdom as a Management Model Toward Sustainable Fisheries

“…and mobilize people in the sake of war [11]. One of the research conducted by Abdullah, Arifin, and Tripa [12] also stated that the historical study of Panglima laot shows that his rule was based on an area called lhok or Muara (estuary). In modern times, after Indonesia, as a nation got its independence from Dutch and Japanese colonialism, the role of Panglima laot had changed as well, where at the beginning, the Indonesian government was seemingly neglected this traditional institution, even though it finally got a more robust formal-legal basis thru validation Law Number 44 of 2000 on the Implementation of Special Feature of the Special Province of Aceh.…”

“…Besides these managerial roles, a Panglima laot also had the judicial authority to impose certain sanctions based on the customary court held by the lhok community he led [13]. Hukum adat laot, in its relation to ecological conservation, regulated three crucial aspects, namely prohibit the use of destructive fishing gears (bombing, poisoning, or illegal coral reefs mining), prohibit fishing of protected sea animals and plants, and prohibit the cutting of trees growing on coastal areas such as mangrove, coastal spruce, and pandanus as well as prohibit fishing on specific days such as Islamic feast days, Indonesian national day, and Fridays [12], [13].…”

“…Panglima laot as traditional institutions in Aceh has several advantages mainly related to the long history it possesses, acknowledgement from government both local and central [10]- [12], and adat laot that had been written down [10]. Research in Sabang (one of the cities within Aceh province administration) showed that Panglima laot's performance in coastal resource management has been effective and running well [13].…”

The Opportunities to Obtain Traditional Fisheries Rights for Aceh Traditional Fishermen

“…These traditional fishing rights and other legitimate activities may not be transferred to or shared with third countries or their citizens. According to Customary Law of the Sea, the concept and regulation of traditional fisheries rights issues are completely not stated (it can be seen in various decisions of Panglima Laot) [9]. Article 2 Year 1969 on Vienna Convention, stated that an International Treaty is "an agreement made between countries in writing, and is governed by International Law, whether in a single instrument or two or more related instruments and whatever name is given to it."…”