“We do not inherit the Earth from our ancestors; we borrow it from our children.” — Native American Proverb
This proverb reminds us that nature is not something to be used up, but something to be cared for and passed on. Yet for many coastal fishers, life has not always reflected this ideal.
For years, some communities were trapped in a vicious cycle of poverty. Destructive fishing damaged coral reefs and coastal ecosystems. Fish became smaller and scarcer. Catches declined. Incomes fell. To survive, fishers felt forced to use even more destructive methods—causing even greater damage. Over time, the sea gave less and less, until many families struggled to bring home enough to live on.
In North Sulawesi, where Rare works alongside coastal communities, we chose a different path. We came not as outsiders with ready-made solutions, but as partners—listening, learning, and working together. We supported communities to plan for their future, establish managed fishing areas and no-take zones, organize community-based surveillance, also introduce saving behavior to improve their household financial management.
Slowly, perspectives began to change. Fishers saw that protecting their seas meant protecting their livelihoods. Reefs started to recover. Fish returned. Catches improved. Hope grew.
Today, these fishers are no longer victims of a broken system. They are guardians of their oceans—protecting no-take zones, monitoring illegal activities, and safeguarding their children’s future.
By caring for the sea, they are rebuilding their lives, and by standing together, they are proving that sustainable fisheries are not just possible—they are powerful.
This is the story of Sofian Gondang, a local fisher from Pusomaen, Minahasa Tenggara District, North Sulawesi. Once involved in destructive fishing practices, Sofian chose to leave these unsustainable methods behind and join Rare’s Managed Access and Reserve program. Today, he is one of the program’s strongest advocates and community champions.
Hari Kushardanto is Rare’s Vice President for Indonesia.