The paper discusses the changes brought about by the New Order Regime in the community’s knowledge and access to natural resources. With emphasis on development, marine and coastal habitats were converted for other purposes and laws were put in place that resulted in the marginalization of customary/local community wisdom. The paper discusses the problems identified by Northern Sulawesi fishermen at a conference, especially regarding loss of traditional institutions and tenure systems and the problems with the modern system of tenure. There was also an example of communities working on their own, supported by NGOs, to restore and protect coral reefs near their village.