The Low level of Sustainability of Fishing Households Livelihood Assets Around Marine Conservation Areas

Abstract

The sustainability of coastal community livelihood assets is very relevant to efforts to develop the blue economy. This research aims to determine the sustainability of fishing household livelihood assets on the coast of marine conservation areas. The research locations are in three coastal villages in the marine conservation area of the eastern region of Bintan Island, Riau Island Province of Indonesia. This research uses a survey method with a quantitative descriptive approach. The research results show that, in general, the development of marine conservation areas in the eastern region has not had a significant impact on increasing the sustainability of the livelihood assets of the surrounding community. Of the five assets measured, only physical assets showed the best level of sustainability, namely 83%. Meanwhile, the other four assets indicate a low level of sustainability, namely human resource assets (42%), social assets (42%), financial assets (23%) and natural assets (29%). The low level of sustainability of the four livelihood assets has implications for increasing pressure on natural resources and conflicts of interest in conservation areas, as well as increasing community vulnerability to climate change. It is necessary to study management models that can increase the sustainability of community livelihood assets.