Muhammad Arhan Rajab, Darmawan Salman, Nur Ifra Khumaera
Mangrove ecosystems play a significant role in coastal sustainability and fisheries resources. However, studies on the interrelationships among mangrove ecosystems, fisheries resources, and stakeholder readiness for ecosystem management remain limited. This study fills this gap by analyzing the interactions between mangrove degradation, fisheries production, and community perceptions of mangrove tourism development as an alternative livelihood in Bandar Lampung. This study used two stages of data analysis: descriptive quantitative-qualitative analysis aimed to provide an overview of the relationship between mangrove ecosystems and fishery resources in the Kota Karang District, Bandar Lampung, by collecting secondary data, statistical data, and research related to the mangrove ecosystem in Bandar Lampung. The index score analysis aimed to analyze community readiness based on the percentage of score achievement in each dimension of ecology, economy, infrastructure, and governance, thus measuring community knowledge. The results showed that mangrove ecosystem degradation in Lampung has been ongoing, with 54% of the land area damaged in 2015. Land conversion and sedimentary debris caused the damage. Satellite imagery via Google Earth shows that mangrove ecosystem has experienced degradation in 2015 however mangrove density continued to improve to 2025. This is also evident in the increased fish catch particularly for small pelagic fish, in 2024. Therefore, alternative livelihoods, such as mangrove tourism development, are needed. Community perception of the ecological dimension of mangrove ecotourism in Kota Karang is high, the economic dimension in this study is categorized as sufficient, the infrastructure and governance dimensions remained in the low category. The community is optimistic that mangrove areas could become tourist destinations, driven by the potential to generate new income through the development of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSME) within the mangrove tourism area. However, they are pessimistic about the success of the proposed mangrove tourism development due to limited understanding, weak institutional governance, and inadequate infrastructure. The implications of this research emphasize the importance of an integrated coastal management approach that integrates strengthening the socio-economic and ecological dimensions for the sustainable development of mangrove ecosystems. © 2026, Egyptian Society for the Development of Fisheries and Human Health. All rights reserved.
Marine Environmental Science Study Program, Sumatera Institute of Technology, Jati Agung, South Lampung, 35365, Indonesia; Agricultural Socioeconomic Study Program, Faculty of Agriculture, Hasanuddin University, South Sulawesi, Makassar, 90246, Indonesia; Fisheries Agribusiness Study Program, Nusantara Polytechnic of Makassar, South Sulawesi, Makassar, 90233, Indonesia