KKP Develops Customary Community-Based Marine Spatial Planning Model in Bali

The Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) is developing a customary community-based marine spatial planning (MSP) model in Intaran Village, Denpasar, Bali, as an effort to strengthen coastal area management while preserving local cultural values. Permana Yudiarso, Director of Coastal and Small Island Utilisation at the KKP’s Directorate General of Marine Spatial Planning, stated that the model’s development is being carried out through collaboration with local government, academics, area managers, customary communities, and other stakeholders. “The development of this MSP model will strengthen the role of customary communities as the main drivers of coastal and marine area management, supported by the government and stakeholders,” Permana said in an official statement in Jakarta on Wednesday. He explained that the marine spatial planning model is designed so that customary communities are not only beneficiaries but also play a role as primary actors in the planning and management of coastal areas. The involvement of customary communities includes managing customary village-owned enterprises in the real sector, services, and public utilities, including managing coastal areas for tourism activities such as diving, snorkelling, and fishing. He emphasised that the development of customary community-based marine spatial planning is still supported by data and technical studies to ensure it provides economic benefits without neglecting the sustainability of coastal and marine ecosystems. According to him, the coastal area of Intaran Customary Village has strong interconnections between social, cultural, economic, and environmental aspects, thus requiring integrated management. With this approach, the utilisation of marine space is expected to proceed in harmony with coastal ecosystem protection, community economic strengthening, tourism sector sustainability, and the preservation of Balinese cultural values. I Made Supartha, Chair of the Special Committee on Spatial Planning, Assets, and Licensing (Pansus TRAP) of the Bali Provincial Legislative Council (DPRD), stated that the model’s development also integrates the Tri Hita Karana philosophy as a foundation for maintaining balance in the relationship between humans and God, among fellow humans, and with the environment. Meanwhile, the Head of Intaran Customary Village, Agung Alit Kencana, welcomed the initiative. He noted that active involvement of the customary community is crucial to ensure that the direction of coastal area development remains aligned with the identity and needs of the local community. He added that destructive fishing practices are still found, so efforts to conserve marine areas need to be continuously strengthened. “Intaran Customary Village has a very close relationship with the coastal and marine areas. Therefore, the development of this MSP can serve as a shared space to protect the environment, strengthen culture, and open up sustainable economic benefits for the community,” he said. The introduction of the customary community-based MSP development model was discussed in a forum involving the KKP, the Bali Provincial Government, the Denpasar City Government, the Bali Provincial DPRD, the Faculty of Marine and Fisheries at Udayana University, PT Pengelola Mertasari Bersama, the Intaran Customary Village community, and various other stakeholders.