Description
Indonesia, the largest archipelagic country in the world, is actively developing its plans to boost economic growth. The Indonesian government published the national Ocean Policy in 2017 and the country’s Blue Economy Roadmap in 2023. However, development obstacles such as climate change, fragmented ocean management, inadequate infrastructure and technology, and low sustainable investment carry risks in hindering successful outcomes of ocean economies and harming coastal communities (Wuwung et al., 2024). In addition, concerns have been raised regarding the true sustainable dimension of the “blue economy” and the risks of social injustice (Germond-Duret et al., 2023; Bennett et al, 2021; 2023).
This paper will present initial findings from our Leverhulme Trust-funded project, which focuses on the co-production of alternative knowledge of ocean justice with coastal communities. Using innovative and participatory methodologies, including photovoice, we held nine workshops with small-scale fishers, women from small-scale fishing communities, and primary school children, in three cities of Indonesia including Bitung, Jakarta and Kupang. In doing so, we examined how ocean justice was understood by coastal communities. The findings suggest that:
- Injustices felt by coastal communities due to blue economy activities include environmental, economic, social-cultural, educational, and human health dimensions.
- Impacts of competing use for coastal and marine spaces in combination with climate change and biodiversity loss disproportionately harms communities that are most dependent on the ocean, have fewer resources, and are often marginalised in blue economy processes.
- Access to marine resources and market, as well as affordable, timely and effective access to information, and meaningful participation, are key to ensure the protection of needs, interests and rights of coastal communities from adverse impacts of economic activities in ocean and coastal areas.
The findings will be discussed in relation to existing ocean justice frameworks and used to inform Indonesia’s blue economy strategy.
