Optimal Ratio between Ponds and Mangroves in the Management of Silvofishery in Indramayu Regency

Abstract

Communities’ dependence on aquaculture ponds as their main source of livelihood has resulted in the extensive conversion of mangroves, which then becomes a serious concern for the sustainability of coastal areas in Indramayu Regency, West Java. The economic advantages of aquaculture should be in line with the ecological role of mangroves in achieving sustainable silvofishery management. Despite the fact that different pond-to-mangrove ratios have been suggested in previous research, there is still an absence of quantitative data that takes into consideration all of the three main criteria in decision-making. Thus, the purpose of the study is to determine the most efficient pond-to-mangrove ratio for sustainable development in Indramayu Regency using the Preferred Rating Organization Method for Enrichment Evaluation (PROMETHEE) in a multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) approach. We conducted a field survey, interviewing stakeholders, holding focus group discussions and observing the ecological environment to understand various economic, ecological and social indicators. A PROMETHEE II analysis was conducted to rank the pond-to-mangrove ratios according to the established criteria. As a result, the most profitable ratio was identified at 70:30, with the highest net flow value of 0.1731. Our study indicates that clear and systematic paths to improve silvofishery management decision-making can be achieved by incorporating stakeholder preferences into MCDA. However, the established ratio must take into account the local economic, ecological, and social contexts of the relevant coastal area before being implemented there.