Analysis of Sustainability Status and Management of Brown Seaweed Sargassum sp. in the Waters of Ujung Kulon Conservation Area

Abstract

The potential of seaweed resources in Indonesia has a significant economic value that is quite competitive and useful in the food and non-food sectors. One of the habitats of Sargassum sp. in Indonesia is Ujung Kulon, Banten Province. However, the existence of this species has not been utilized optimally and sustainably by the community. In addition, the problem is the lack of community participation in conservation water areas and sustainable management. The study aimed to determine the resource potential of brown seaweed Sargassum sp. in the location. In addition, it will evaluate the management and utilization, as well as the role of the community in sustainable management. Sustainability analysis was conducted using the Multi-Dimensional Scaling (MDS) technique through the RAPFISH (Rapid Appraisal for Fisheries) approach reinforced with Monte Carlo and Leverage analyses. The preparation of sustainability attributes is based on ecological, economic, social, and institutional dimensions. The results of this study showed that each dimension's value for the environmental dimension (66.15 entirely) is sustainable. The sustainability index value in the economic dimension (81.68) is sustainable. The results of the ordination analysis show that the sustainability index value in the social dimension (20.97) is not sustainable, institutional (31.92) with less sustainable status, so it needs to be a top priority for improvement on several sensitive attributes as leverage factors. In this case, the economic dimension is the value with the highest index, which aligns with the main livelihoods of the conservation area's people. As for the social and institutional dimensions, appropriate improvements still need to be made to support sustainable development. These results are expected to provide information and illustrations for stakeholders and the community in sustainable management efforts in formulating policy strategies.