The Importance of Establishing Particularly Sensitive Sea Areas in Lombok Strait: Maritime Security Perspective

Abstract

Shipping activities in the Indonesian Archipelagic Sea Lane II (IASL II) of the Lombok Strait will likely to increase in the future and expose the areas maritime threats like sea damage and pollution. To preserve maritime security from any adverse effects caused by shipping activities, the Indonesian Government has designated these areas as Marine Protective Areas (MPAs). However, such areas still has to recognition as protected areas. The Indonesian Government has issued an internal policy demonstrating intent to establish the Lombok Strait as Particularly Sensitive Sea Areas (PSSA), which has been discussed since 2008 but has not yet officially submitted to the International Maritime Organization (IMO). This research aims to analyze the advantages and disadvantages of PSSA enactment in Lombok Strait. The research employs qualitative methods with Soft System Methodology as the data analysis technique in attempt to analyze PSSA enactment, which is characterized as a complex and ill-defined problem. NVivo 12 Plus software is employed in this research to assist in data processing and triangulation. The research results showed that Lombok Strait’s enactment as PSSA could provide several advantages, especially in preserving maritime safety and protection of the environment.