Impacts of seawater level and human activities on Yeh Gangga Beach’s coastal area at Tabanan Town

Abstract

The coastal environment of Bali has undergone significant changes due to rising seawater levels and human activities associated with tourism. As a result, public beach areas have become narrower, which has marginalized public interest and religious activities, particularly in coastal tourist resorts. To address this issue, this research focuses on Yeh Gangga's coastal area in Tabanan Regency, which is a crucial ritual site for the Tabanan Town Community, a traditional fisherman's territory, and a location of conflicts of interest among parties in the use of the beach. Empirical studies in the field, including observation, institutional data, and theories, were conducted to gather data. From the results of in-depth interviews conducted by a number of residents, they said that erosion has been going on for a long time and it is estimated that 20-50 meters of the coast towards the mainland has become the sea. Hence, the main objective of this research is to provide factual evidence of the decreasing public coastal areas as public spaces in Yeh Gangga Beach and to suggest that the local authorities build an organization body for integrated coastal zone management. The findings of this research will benefit academic purposes, urban planners, and local authorities.