Sukamade Marine and Fisheries Governance Reform: Building Trust Through Digital Governance for Sustainability (A Contextual Case Study)

Totok Hendarto

Authors

Totok Hendarto Universitas Dr Soetomo, Surabaya

Keywords:

Digital Governance, Marine Protected Areas, Community Trust, Citizen Science, Sustainability

Abstract

This case study analyzes governance deficits in the implementation of the Sukamade Marine Protected Area (MPA), Banyuwangi, to integrate the pillars of Humanity, Sustainability, and Technology within the context of International Conventions. Although coastal communities demonstrated high ecological support (95%), qualitative results (interviews and focus group discussions) identified a severe Digital Governance Deficit, manifested as a crisis of institutional trust. Seventy-five percent of respondents felt that regulations were unfair and managers were non-transparent, exacerbated by low participation (85%) and perceived economic losses. These failures threaten the sustainability of the MPA and demand institutional reform. We hypothesize that the solution lies in the implementation of ICT-Based Collaborative Governance. This model includes the implementation of Citizen Science to transform fishermen into accountable data stewards, as well as the use of Digital Financial Inclusion to ensure transparency and fairness in benefit sharing. By reinterpreting social findings through a Technology lens, this paper proposes an inclusive and digitally tested MPA model, offering important lessons for ICHST countries in the region (Indonesia, Malaysia, Brunei, Australia) in realizing equitable and sustainable marine conservation.

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