In the heart of the Indonesian archipelago, a team of researchers led by Fortia Magfira from Universitas Maritim Raja Ali Haji has developed a web-based Geographic Information System (Web-GIS) that’s set to revolutionize coastal management and fisheries in Bintan Island’s Pengudang Village. This isn’t just another tech project; it’s a lifeline for local livelihoods, blending science, technology, and community knowledge to create a tool that’s as practical as it is innovative.
So, what’s the big deal? Well, imagine having a bird’s-eye view of the coast, where you can see not just the land, but also the underwater habitats, the mangroves, and even where the fishermen are casting their nets. That’s precisely what this Web-GIS offers. It’s like a digital map, but one that’s alive, constantly updated, and packed with information that can help make better decisions about how we use and protect our coastal resources.
The team used satellite imagery from Sentinel-2, combined with good old-fashioned fieldwork and interviews with local fishermen. They identified four main types of benthic habitats: seagrass, sand, mixed substrate, and dead coral with algae. They also assessed the density of mangroves using a technique called NDVI analysis. But here’s where it gets really interesting. They found that the fishing grounds are mostly in shallow waters with seagrass and mixed substrates. And get this, the fishermen are mostly using traditional methods like kelong and bubu, pulling in catches of 5–20 kg per trip.
Now, why should the maritime industry care? Well, for starters, this tool can help fisheries managers and policymakers make informed decisions about sustainable fishing practices. It can also aid in the conservation of critical habitats like mangroves and seagrass beds, which are vital for the health of our oceans. Plus, it’s a fantastic example of how technology can be used to support small-scale fisheries, which are often the backbone of local economies.
As Fortia Magfira puts it, “The developed Web-GIS provides interactive maps, layer selection, and spatial search features. The system enhances accessibility to coastal spatial data and supports evidence-based decision-making for sustainable coastal resource management in Pengudang Village.”
But it’s not just about the here and now. This tool has the potential to open up new opportunities for the maritime sector. For instance, it could be used to identify areas suitable for aquaculture, or to monitor the impacts of coastal development projects. It could even be used to track changes in habitat over time, providing valuable insights for researchers and conservationists.
So, what’s next? Well, the team has published their findings in the Journal of Applied Geospatial Information, which is like the bible for geospatial scientists. But this is just the beginning. The hope is that this Web-GIS will be adopted by local authorities and communities, and that it will serve as a model for other coastal areas around the world.
In the words of Fortia Magfira, “This study aims to map coastal ecological conditions and fishing grounds while developing an accessible Web-GIS system to support coastal management.” And that, in a nutshell, is what this is all about. It’s about using technology to support sustainable coastal management, to protect our marine resources, and to support the livelihoods of those who depend on them. It’s about looking after our oceans, and in turn, looking after ourselves.