Between Sangihe and Siau, two satellite islands of North Sulawesi, lies Tatoareng, a small island chain home to Para Island and others within the Tatoareng Marine Protected Area (MPA). The community in Para Village is taking steps to revive Seke Maneke, a local wisdom that once supported livelihoods and conservation. This traditional fishing method restricts the space and time of harvesting fish, only in certain locations and at set times. The catch must be shared, fostering unity and sustainable resource utilisation. Most importantly, this practice also protected the nesting grounds of turtles and megapods on the coast. However, times shifted, and in 1924, nets replaced the Seke, silencing the old ways, impacting biodiversity and resource management.

Then, in 2022, a collaborative effort involving the local community, government, and conservation partners, including North Sulawesi Conservation Agency (BKSDA) and WCS Indonesia Program has begun to piece together the shattered fragments of Seke Maneke. The initiative led to two village regulations in 2024—one on fisheries management based on local wisdom and another on wildlife protection.

In June 2024 the sea witnessed a rebirth: the first Seke Maneke in years, a triumphant return. In a span of three months, the Seke Fisher’s Communication Forum was established to ensure the sustainability of this coastal tradition. Two months later, the forum decided to extend the closure of the fishing area for the next Seke Maneke, allowing the sea to heal, and providing more hope for smaller fish to mature.