Development of Sustainable Coastal Benchmarks for Local Wisdom in Pangandaran Village Communities

Abstract

Local wisdom is frequently used by communities in managing their coastal resources without a precise measure of sustainability. As a result, the government must develop a standard for determining the wisdom of these practices. This study aimed to create such a standard, followed by a trial to evaluate management practices in Pangandaran coastal tourism. This qualitative case study included a literature review, direct observations, and in-depth interviews with fish farmers and fishers. They are standardizing instrument criteria for sustainable fishery resource management-defined wisdom. Such wisdom is divided into fundamental thinking (factual knowledge) and management practices (procedural knowledge). Each consists of five criteria: ecosystem and resource management, planning, governance, technology, and social and economic development. Each criterion has a specific rating indicator and parameter. The results show differences in the level of wisdom between the fish farmer and the fishers. Regarding basic thinking, fishers’ wisdom level is weak in three out of five criteria. Fishers reach a moderate wisdom level concerning fishing gear and technical criteria and a strong level on social and economic criteria. In contrast, the fish farmer is moderate to strong for four criteria and weak for the resources and ecosystems criterion. Regarding management practices, in general, fish farmers and fishers have the same level of wisdom. Both are weak in the ecosystem and resources, planning, and institutional criteria, while the fishing gear criteria reach moderate levels and the socio-economic criteria reach high levels.