Balancing Ecology, Security, and Livelihoods: Strategic Management of Jiew Island as Indonesia’s Northern Maritime Frontier

This study analyzes the integrated management strategy of Jiew Island, one of Indonesia's outermost small islands, which occupies a strategic position along the northern maritime boundary and serves a dual function as a bastion of sovereignty, an ecological refuge, and a livelihood base for coastal communities.Employing a qualitative approach that combines case study and multi-level governance policy analysis, this research integrates field observations, in-depth interviews, and policy document analysis.The findings reveal that Jiew Island's governance remains sectoral and fragmented, with weak coordination across governmental levels-particularly following the implementation of Law No. 23 of 2014, which divided authority between land and sea management.Nevertheless, local community initiatives in community-based conservation and Other Effective Area-Based Conservation Measures (OECMs) have begun to show effectiveness in maintaining coastal ecosystem resilience.The study recommends a Community-Based Integrated Island Management (CBIIM) model that harmonizes security, ecology, and economy through multiactor collaboration.These findings emphasize that strengthening the governance of Indonesia's frontier islands requires synergy among national policies, community participation, and principles of blue justice to achieve equilibrium between maritime sovereignty, ecological conservation, and sustainable coastal livelihoods.