Sustainable Marine Research Articles

Peran Diplomasi Maritim Indonesia sebagai Poros Maritim Dunia

This paper discusses the role of Indonesia's maritime diplomacy in realizing its vision as the Global Maritime Fulcrum (Poros Maritim Dunia - PMD). Indonesia’s maritime diplomacy focuses on strengthening maritime security, enhancing maritime infrastructure connectivity, sustainable marine resource management, and promoting maritime culture. Through active participation in international forums such as IORA and cooperation with G20 countries, Indonesia aims to strengthen its strategic position as a global maritime trade hub. This study highlights how maritime diplomacy supports the achievement of the five pillars of PMD, solidifying Indonesia's role in the Indo-Pacific region and enhancing the country's global influence.

Preface

Abstract Welcome to the 4th Maritime Safety International Conference (MASTIC) 2024 The Department of Marine Engineering, Faculty of Marine Technology, Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember (ITS), Surabaya, in collaboration with the Center of Excellence for Maritime Safety and Marine Installation (PUI KEKAL), is proud to present the 4th MASTIC 2024. This year, we are delighted to host the conference started from August 25th to 28th in Prima Plaza Hotel Sanur, Bali, Indonesia. The conference theme, “Enhancing Maritime Safety towards Sustainable Marine Technologies and Environmental Protection”, attracted a diverse range of participants, presentations, keynote speeches and workshop session. Four prominent keynote speakers are Ir. Raymond Ivan H.A.S. that talked about the role of government to the sustainable shipping and digitalization, Professor Akira Sou of Kobe University presented about Recent Technology Development for Marine Engines, Dr. Junghan Lee as the CEO of Cluster LNG South Korea that delivered a presentation about LNG Technology in Indonesia and the last speaker, Bani Maulana Mulia, the President Director of PT Samudera Indonesia Tbk who delivers recent developments in Samudera Indonesia that support sustainable shipping and emission reduction. After being held online twice, this year the conference brings the in-person format that allows more meaningful interactions, networking opportunities, and a deeper engagement for all participants. The conference featured 49 accepted papers that authored by researchers from 6 different countries: Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Croatia, Montenegro, and Germany. These papers represented the latest advancements in the field of maritime safety and are a valuable contribution to the conference. List of Conference Committee are available in this pdf.

Greening the marine map: a comprehensive study of China’s marine ecological and economic synergy

IntroductionThis research examines the coupling coordinated development dynamics between marine ecological governance and marine economic development in China’s coastal provinces. The marine ecological governance and economic development data of China’s 11 coastal provinces were comprehensively analyzed from 2011 to 2021.MethodsWe established a multi-dimensional evaluation index system for marine ecological governance and economic development, employing the global entropy weight method for quantification. Furthermore, the research examines and analyzes the trends in coordinated development and divergence between these two systems by constructing a coupled coordination degree(CCD) model, utilizing the Theil index decomposition method, and employing the geodetector detector.ResultsThe Northern marine economic circle outperforms the Eastern and Southern ones regarding marine ecological governance, while the Eastern marine economic circle is the most advanced in marine economic development. The results of the CCD model indicate that Guangdong, Shandong, Hebei, and Jiangsu have the best coupling coordinated development, while Hainan, Tianjin, and Guangxi are at the bottom. The results of the Theil index decomposition method indicate that intra-regional disparities are the primary cause of coupling coordinated regional development variations. At the same time, the results of the geographic detector further substantiate that energy structure, degree of industrial agglomeration, and foreign overseas direct investment are the principal influencing factors.DiscussionThe study presents policy recommendations derived from the findings intended to foster the integrated advancement of marine ecology and economy in coastal provinces, reduce regional development disparities, and establish a scientific foundation for achieving a sustainable marine economy.

Blue Economy and the Impact of Industrialisation on Sustainable Livelihoods: A Case Study of Fisheries in the North Coastal Region of Java

This research explores the impacts of the blue economy and industrialisation on sustainable livelihoods in the coastal areas of the North Coast of Java, with a particular focus on the fisheries sector.The main objective of this research is to analyse how changes in blue economy practices, which include sustainable marine resource management approaches, interact with industrialisation processes and their impact on the survival of local fishing communities.The research method used was qualitative with a case study approach, where data was collected through in-depth interviews with fishermen, government officials, and relevant stakeholders, as well as direct observation in the field. Data analysis was conducted using thematic analysis techniques to identify patterns and significant relationships between the factors involved.The results of this study show that industrialisation in the coastal areas of Java's North Coast has vital and complex impacts on the sustainable livelihoods of local fishing communities. On the one hand, industrialisation provides new economic opportunities, such as jobs in the fishing and manufacturing sectors, which can increase community income. However, on the other hand, negative impacts on the aquatic environment due to industrial activities and overexploitation of natural resources threaten the sustainability of the marine ecosystem, which is the main source of livelihood for fishermen.The managerial implications of these findings emphasise the need to integrate blue economy policies with the maturity of sustainable industrial development planning. Policy development that accommodates the needs of local ecosystems and fishing communities, with a pattern of regulating marine protected zones and supporting the shift to environmentally friendly fisheries practices, is key to ensuring the sustainability of fishers' livelihoods and healthy coastal ecosystems. This research provides important insights for policy makers and practitioners involved in marine fisheries resource management and industry development in coastal areas.

Event Concept Planning Based on Marine Tourism in Mallasoro Village, Jeneponto Regency

This study aims to identify the potential of marine tourism and design an event concept that can enhance the welfare of the local community in Mallasoro Village, Jeneponto Regency, South Sulawesi. Using a qualitative approach with descriptive methods, data was collected through in-depth interviews, observations, and documentation. SWOT analysis (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats) assessed the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats involved in developing the event concept. The analysis reveals that Mallasoro Village has significant strengths, including natural beauty, a strong local culture, and community support. However, challenges were identified, such as inadequate infrastructure and limited tourism promotion. Opportunities include the growing interest in marine tourism and regional government support through policies and capacity-building programs. Threats, such as climate change affecting beach and ocean conditions and competition with other destinations in South Sulawesi, must be anticipated. With proper planning, Mallasoro Village has the potential to become a leading marine tourism destination by developing Leisure Events and Cultural Events that incorporate diverse attractions and innovative programs, including sports, tours, education, workshops, exhibitions, culinary festivals, and sustainable marine conservation activities. These efforts can increase tourist visits while strengthening environmental awareness.

Integrating Circular Economy Practices for Sustainable Maritime Tourism Development in Bone Regency, Indonesia

This study analyzes the application of circular economy principles in the development of marine tourism in Bone Regency, Indonesia, using a qualitative case study approach involving local government representatives, community members, and tourists. Data was collected through in-depth interviews and field observations to understand the integration of circular economy practices, including waste management, resource reuse, and local community empowerment. Findings highlight both opportunities and challenges in implementing sustainable tourism, such as limited funding and infrastructure. However, effective practices, such as community-led recycling initiatives and government support in waste treatment, underscore the potential for circular economy models to enhance environmental sustainability and local economic benefits. The study concludes that a circular economy framework, supported by multi-stakeholder collaboration, can provide a path toward sustainable marine tourism, offering insights for policymakers and researchers aiming to balance environmental and economic goals in tourism development.

Pengembangan Wisata Bahari Berkelanjutan melalui Partisipative Approach di Desa Busung Kecamatan Teupah Tengah Kabupaten Simelue

Simeulue Island is one of the archipelago areas that has the charm of a very potential marine tourism destination. To optimize sustainable tourism, cooperation and a collaborative role are needed in the development of marine tourism. One of the marine tourism locations is located on Busung beach, Busung Village, Teupah Tengah District, Simeulue Regency. Busung Beach has the allure of the sea and a beautiful stretch of sand, but the natural charm it offers is not utilized properly by the Simeulue Regency government. The lack of optimal waste management, the faulty belief system of the community which thinks that development on the beach will only provide one-sided benefits, the lack of enthusiasm of the community in developing beach tourism, the problem of human resources which are still minimal in tourism management are basic problems that must be overcome by the government. The aim of the research is to find out how to develop sustainable marine tourism through a participation approach in Busung village. This research was carried out using qualitative methods with a qualitative descriptive approach. Based on the research results, it can be concluded that the development of sustainable marine tourism in Busung Village is still at the consultation level, namely that there has been two-way communication between the Simeulue Regency Government and the Busung Village Government but it is still a formality. The essence of the consultation is that several activities have been carried out, such as gathering aspirations through meetings facilitated by the Teupah Tengah District Government, field visits by the Disbudpar, submission of proposals for the development of Busung beach tourism. These efforts have not had a good impact on marine tourism in Busung Village.

Physico-chemical and thermal degradation characteristics of marine red macroalgae for sustainable packaging applications

This study aims to examine the characteristics of Eucheuma cottonii, Gracilaria verrucosa, and Acanthophora spicifera red macroalgae. Eucheuma cottonii showed an average particle size of 58 μm, while Gracilaria verrucosa and Acanthophora spicifera were 84 μm and 72 μm, respectively. Besides, Eucheuma cottonii presented the lowest band of hydroxyl groups, exhibiting the formation of greater intermolecular hydrogen bonds. The red macroalgae biopolymer films were fabricated via a solvent-casting technique. The optimum performance was achieved from Eucheuma cottonii macroalgae with the tensile strength, puncture resistance, and contact angle reached 27.38 MPa, 6.72 N, and 72.58°, respectively. The increase in storage time for six months resulted in a slight decrease in the water barrier and film transparency. It appears feasible to use these red macroalgae as promising sustainable marine biomasses for practical use in eco-friendly packaging materials since the red macroalgae films showed good mechanical, water barrier, and biodegradability properties.

CAPACITY BUILDING FOR CIVIL SERVANTS AND STATE MANAGEMENT ORGANIZATIONS OF VIETNAM'S SEAS AND ISLANDS

Vietnam's seas and islands greatly influence political and legal life for national, regional, and international development in history, present, and future. The article analyzes the need and importance of capacity building for civil servants and state management organizations on seas and islands in the context of developing the marine economy and protecting Vietnam's sea and island sovereignty. With a long coastline and a rich island system, Vietnam is facing many challenges from resource exploitation, and climate change to national security and defense issues. The article discusses the current status of the sea and island management capacity of civil servants, officials, and related organizations, including limitations in expertise, management skills, and the ability to respond to complex situations. The article also proposes strategic solutions to improve management capacity through training, professional development, enhanced international cooperation, and application of modern technology in sea and island management. The article emphasizes that improving the capacity of civil servants and state management organizations is the key to effectively implementing policies for sustainable marine economic development and protecting national maritime interests, making an important contribution to the comprehensive development of Vietnam.<p> </p><p><strong> Article visualizations:</strong></p><p><img src="/-counters-/soc/0712/a.php" alt="Hit counter" /></p>

Recent developments in building sustainable marine fisheries in China: Reflections on the 2023 Revision of the Marine Environmental Protection Law

As the ocean provides an environmental carrier for fisheries development, sustainable marine fisheries and marine environmental protection are highly synergistic and consistent. Facing traditional and emerging crises such as marine pollution, overfishing and climate change, China revised the Marine Environmental Protection Law in 2023. This article aims to evaluate whether the newly revised Marine Environmental Protection Law effectively responds to crises of sustainable development in marine fisheries and how it contributes to sustainable marine fisheries. The study has found that the 2023 revision enriches and improves China’s legal regimes on marine fisheries from multiple aspects, covering marine environmental supervision, marine ecological protection and the prevention and control of land-based pollution, engineering construction projects pollution, waste dumping pollution, vessel pollution and legal responsibility. The newly revised Marine Environmental Protection Law not only refines the institutional norms and intensifies the legal responsibilities of violations but also improves the systemic nature of the legislation, thus providing stronger legal guarantees for sustainable marine fisheries. However, there are also legislative shortcomings such as unclear connotations of the newly established legal regimes and insufficient response to overfishing and climate change. Nevertheless, China’s newly revised Marine Environmental Protection Law applies the methodology of integrated ecosystem management and comprehensively utilized regulatory measures such as command-and-control tools, honor encouragement and economic incentives to enhance its regulatory effect, also providing implications and insights for addressing the challenges of sustainable marine fisheries on a global scale.

Evaluation of ecological health of Hainan Island inshore waters in the South China Sea based on preliminary fish biotic integrity index (Actinopterygii and Elasmobranchii)

The well-being of marine ecosystems significantly influences biodiversity and ecological equilibrium amidst pressing challenges such as overfishing, water pollution, and climate change. Drawing upon data from two fishery stock surveys conducted in the inshore waters of Hainan Island in 2022, this study undertook a comprehensive evaluation of the marine ecosystem’s health status in the region. Employing the Fish Index of Biological Integrity (F-IBI) analysis method, coupled with an examination of the structural and functional aspects of the fish community, our research sheds light on the prevailing conditions. Our study revealed a spatial dichotomy within the fish communities of the study area and delineated them into two distinct groups: the northwestern and southeastern ones, with evident disparities in community structure between the two. By employing indicator screening and calculation, we segmented the fish health index in the inshore waters of Hainan Island into five tiers. Despite discernible anthropogenic influences, the ecological health of these waters remained generally robust. Notably, the mean F-IBI of fall (56.30) significantly exceeded that of spring (48.16) (P < 0.01). Furthermore, regarding spatial distribution, the ecological well-being of the southeastern waters surpassed that of the northwestern and Qionghzhou Strait waters. This study represents a pioneer endeavor to apply ecological health assessment methodologies towards informing resource management and conservation strategies for the inshore fisheries of Hainan Island. By furnishing a scientific foundation, our research contributes to the pursuit of sustainable marine ecological development within this locale.

SEAs for seas: Strategic environmental assessment for more strategic and environmentally-oriented marine spatial planning processes

The foreseen, and already ongoing, substantial increase in offshore renewable energy and corresponding infrastructures urges policymakers and scholars to carefully consider corresponding long-term environmental effects on the marine environment. Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) is becoming a standard tool for Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) processes for enabling planners to develop more sustainable marine spatial plans. To explore how SEA can contribute to a more strategic and environmentally-oriented MSP practice, four SEA processes from four North Sea countries are examined, building on available SEA documents and semi-structured interviews. The results show that SEAs for MSP can take an exploratory or appraisal-oriented approach. Adopting an exploratory approach can open up comparatively more opportunities for SEA to contribute to MSP than an adopting an appraisal-oriented approach, but it requires an early initiation of the SEA within the larger planning process. Still, it does not imply that there is one single best method. Rather, the institutional context establishes the conditions for SEA processes to contribute to MSP practice. Particularly, the political pressures and prior sectoral policymaking for offshore renewable energy restrict what can be included in the scope of an SEA. Also, the limited knowledge on the larger dynamics of the marine environment complicate the assessment of transboundary and cumulative effects. Therefore, as future research continues working towards a robust scientific knowledge base on the marine environment, it is crucial that scholars and policymakers collaborate on a structural basis to bridge the gap between science and policy implementation.

Strong versus weak sustainable development in the blue economy: a study of 15 EU coastal countries

One of the European Union’s environmental and sustainable development objectives is to achieve sustainable marine development, combining the objectives of ocean health and the blue economy. Developing, implementing, and monitoring marine policies requires information on the status and evolution of marine development at the country level, including the extent to which strong sustainable development (i.e., balanced development across socio-economic and environmental dimensions) is being achieved. Here, we provide a comprehensive assessment of progress towards marine development for 15 European Union coastal countries in the Baltic, North, and Atlantic Seas, covering the period 2012–2022 and using information from Sustainable Development Goal 14 to derive our indicator framework. We show that the EU is achieving sustainable marine development, but not comprehensively in all countries. While seven countries achieved sustainable development under both weak and strong sustainability, seven countries developed only under weak sustainability, and one country made no progress under either concept.

Community-Based Management: Marine Tourism Development for Ecological and Economic Sustainability

This study analyzes community-based management approaches in the Kapoposang Marine Nature Tourism Park (TWAL) as a model for sustainable tourism development. The research examines how local community involvement in managing marine tourism areas enhances economic, social, and ecological sustainability. Using a mixed-method approach, the study combines qualitative and quantitative data, including interviews with stakeholders, direct observations, and surveys of local residents and tourists. Findings reveal that participatory approaches significantly enhance the effectiveness of marine ecosystem management, particularly in coral reef conservation, while also contributing to increased local income. However, challenges remain, particularly in infrastructure development, which limits tourism growth and local benefits. The study suggests strategies for maximizing Kapoposang's tourism potential through inclusive community engagement, addressing infrastructure gaps, and promoting sustainable practices. These insights offer valuable guidance for policymakers aiming to foster sustainable marine tourism and community empowerment in protected marine areas, providing a replicable model for similar regions seeking balanced development.

Identifying the spatio-temporal distribution characteristics of offshore wind turbines in China from Sentinel-1 imagery using deep learning

ABSTRACT Offshore wind power is a crucial clean energy source for coastal countries and advances blue economies. Accurate spatial mapping of offshore wind turbines supports energy assessment and the sustainable development of marine resources. Offshore wind power has developed rapidly in China, but the spatiotemporal distribution characteristics of offshore wind turbines and farms remain poorly understood. Extracting nearshore small targets from Sentinel-1 synthetic aperture radar images remain challenging due to noise from the rough sea surface background and the diverse substrate types in offshore wind turbine (OWT) distributions. Here, to address these issues, we first created a dataset of China’s offshore wind turbines (COWTs) that contained typical substrate types (e.g. seawater and tidal flats). Then, a deep learning model integrating an attention mechanism and receptive fields was used to accurately detect COWTs. The well-trained model was used to detect the changes in COWTs from 2015 to 2022. Our model detected an increase in the number of offshore wind farms in China from 7 to 114 (clusters counted as an offshore wind farm), while COWTs increased from 305 to 6451 from 2015 to 2022. The Taiwan Strait exhibited the highest wind speeds, yet the Jiangsu and Guangdong regions had the most installed turbines. Over 90% of COWTs were located in areas with offshore wind energy resources less than 500 W/m3, indicating a mismatch between COWT installation and wind resource distribution. This study demonstrated temporal and geographical generalizability, which is promising for global wind power detection. Our analysis of spatiotemporal variation in COWTs facilitates informed decision-making for future field establishment and sustainable marine planning.

Sustainable Marine and Coastal Tourism: A Catalyst for Blue Economic Expansion in Sri Lanka

Sustainable Marine and Coastal Tourism: A Catalyst for Blue Economic Expansion in Sri Lanka

Mechanical properties and chloride resistance of ultra-high-performance seawater sea-sand concrete with limestone and calcined clay cement (UHPSSC-LC3) under various curing conditions

Although the application of ultra-high performance seawater sea-sand concrete with limestone calcined clay cement (UHPSSC-LC3) provides a promising solution for sustainable marine structures, research on the mechanical properties of UHPSSC-LC3 is quite limited, and no research has been conducted on its chloride resistance performance. In this study, the effect of four curing regimes (i.e. standard curing, 20 °C seawater curing, 40 °C fresh water curing, and 80 °C fresh water curing) on the compressive and flexural strength of UHPSSC-LC3 is experimentally investigated. Rapid chloride migration test and chloride titration test are conducted to determine the chloride diffusion and distribution of UHPSSC-LC3, considering the effects of curing conditions and calcined clay (CC) dosage. In addition, XRD analysis is performed to show the differences in the composition of UHPC, UHPSSC, and UHPSSC-LC3. The obtained results demonstrate that UHPSSC-LC3 attains higher mechanical strength than UHPC and UHPSSC under various curing conditions. The incorporation of LC3 makes the free chloride concentration of UHPSSC-LC3 close to that of UHPC, especially when the heated water curing is applied. The free chloride concentrations of UHPSSC- LC3 cured with 40 °C and 80 °C water are only 10.1 % and 2.9 % higher, respectively, than that of UHPC cured under standard condition. Besides, UHPSSC-LC3 achieves the lowest chloride ion diffusion rate, which is 40.4 % lower than that of UHPSSC, due to the denser matrix resulting from the carboaluminate products and the pozzolanic effects of the calcined clay. Furthermore, the application of heated water curing regimes is recommended for UHPSSC-LC3 when the early strength and chloride resistance are the main concerns.

Eumelanin-Enhanced Photothermal Disinfection of Contact Lenses Using a Sustainable Marine Nanoplatform Engineered with Electrospun Nanofibers.

Bacterial keratitis (BK) is a severe eye infection commonly associated with Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus), posing a significant risk to vision, especially among contact lens wearers. This research introduces a novel smart nanoplatform (deMS@cNF), developed from demineralized mussel shells (deMS) and reinforced with chitin (CT) nanofibrils, specifically designed for portable photothermal disinfection of contact lenses. The nanoplatform leverages the photothermal properties of eumelanin in mussel shells (MS), which, when activated by a simple bike flashlight, rapidly heats to temperatures up to 95°C, effectively destroying bacterial contamination. In vitro tests demonstrate that the nanoplatform is biocompatible and non-toxic, making it suitable for medical applications. This study highlights an innovative approach to converting marine biowaste into a safe, effective, and low-cost portable method for disinfecting contact lenses, showcasing the potential of the deMS@cNF platform for broader antimicrobial applications.

Lightweight deep learning model for underwater waste segmentation based on sonar images

In recent years, the rapid accumulation of marine waste not only endangers the ecological environment but also causes seawater pollution. Traditional manual salvage methods often have low efficiency and pose safety risks to human operators, making automatic underwater waste recycling a mainstream approach. In this paper, we propose a lightweight multi-scale cross-level network for underwater waste segmentation based on sonar images that provides pixel-level location information and waste categories for autonomous underwater robots. In particular, we introduce hybrid perception and multi-scale attention modules to capture multi-scale contextual features and enhance high-level critical information, respectively. At the same time, we use sampling attention modules and cross-level interaction modules to achieve feature down-sampling and fuse detailed features and semantic features, respectively. Relevant experimental results indicate that our method outperforms other semantic segmentation models and achieves 74.66 % mIoU with only 0.68 M parameters. In particular, compared with the representative PIDNet Small model based on the convolutional neural network architecture, our method can improve the mIoU metric by 1.15 percentage points and can reduce model parameters by approximately 91 %. Compared with the representative SeaFormer T model based on the transformer architecture, our approach can improve the mIoU metric by 2.07 percentage points and can reduce model parameters by approximately 59 %. Our approach maintains a satisfactory balance between model parameters and segmentation performance. Our solution provides new insights into intelligent underwater waste recycling, which helps in promoting sustainable marine development.

Impact Analysis of Welding Sequence to Reduce Weld Deformation in Aluminum Hulls

Aluminum hulls, which are preferred in the marine industry due to their durability, corrosion resistance, and lightweight properties, face serious challenges due to thermal deformation during welding. This study aims to predict and minimize transverse deformations due to welding sequences for a transverse model in the lower part of an aluminum hull. To predict deformations, heat source dimensions obtained from actual weld beads were used as simulation conditions, and various welding sequence conditions were simulated through the developed finite element method (FEM). The simulation results were compared with actual deformation measurements to verify their reliability, and the optimal welding sequence which minimized deformation was derived. The simulation results show that by changing the welding sequence conditions, the maximum displacement can be reduced from a maximum of 52.1% to a minimum of 39.1%, and the effective plastic strain can be reduced from a maximum of 19.6% to a minimum of 4.8%. These results show that adjusting the welding sequence conditions can significantly improve structural integrity by minimizing deformation. The results of this study suggest that the control of the welding sequence can be used to reduce the deformation of aluminum hulls and promote a more sustainable marine industry with improved quality.