Achieving sustainable fisheries and livelihoods from Sasi Laut in a blue economy in Indonesia

The Blue Economy concept, widely adopted and promoted at international forums, refers to the sustainable use of ocean resources for economic development, livelihoods, employment, and marine ecosystem health. Indonesia, through its Blue Economy Roadmap, integrates this concept into its national economic growth objectives. Although currently overlooked, an essential component of this strategy is successfully integrating widely practiced traditional community-based fisheries management systems like the Sasi Laut of Eastern Indonesia into the national blue economy strategy. Through a systematic review of literature, laws, regulations, and policies, this research aims to provide insights on how to promote effective integration of Sasi Laut and the Indonesian blue economy plan by (1) synthesizing Sasi Laut’s reported fisheries, conservation, livelihood, and other socio-economic outcomes and evaluating whether they are aligned with Indonesia’s blue economy objectives; (2) identifying policy instruments that could facilitate the integration of Sasi Laut and the blue economy; and (3) examining how Sasi Laut and the blue economy co-promote equitable and sustainable growth in social, economic, and environmental areas. Our results show aligned socioeconomic and ecological outcomes of Sasi Laut and the blue economy, signifying the important role of Indigenous knowledge systems like Sasi Laut in achieving Indonesia’s blue economy goals. Linking existing policies in support of the blue economy and traditional community-based fisheries management practices and active engagement and collaboration of various stakeholders, including Indigenous community members, local governments, and the national government, can help formalize and legitimize the role of the Indigenous knowledge system in Indonesia’s blue economy.