Multidimensional rapfish analysis of Danish seine fisheries in Brondong, Indonesia: ecological, economic, social, technological, and ethical perspectives

This study evaluates the sustainability of Danish seine fisheries at Brondong Fishing Port, Indonesia, using the rapid appraisal for fisheries (RAPFISH) method with multidimensional scaling (MDS). A total of 46 attributes across five dimensions—ecological, economic, social, technological, and ethical—were assessed through expert-based scoring and validated with secondary data from 2014–2024. The results indicate critical ecological challenges, with the ecological dimension scoring unsustainable (19.78), while the technological (37.64) and ethical (43.93) dimensions were categorized as less sustainable, and the economic (61.63) and social (63.16) dimensions moderately sustainable, yielding an overall index of 45.23 (less sustainable). Key leverage attributes included trophic level change, premature catch, gear selectivity, market access, local labor involvement, and management fairness. Monte Carlo validation confirmed the robustness of the MDS results (differences < 5%), while secondary data revealed a decoupling between declining production and fluctuating economic value, underscoring the paradox of economic resilience amid ecological fragility. These findings highlight the urgent need for integrated policy reforms that combine ecological recovery, technological modernization, and inclusive governance, and contribute novel insights by being the first multidimensional RAPFISH application in Brondong with explicit inclusion of ethical sustainability.