Perceptions of fishermen communities against the establishment of conservation areas in Pongok Island, South Bangka

Abstract

Pongok Island has the potential of coastal ecosystems, namely mangrove, seagrass, and coral reef. Recently, increasing use of bombs and potassium in fishing can be destructive hence the ecosystems need to be conserved in order to be utilized sustainably. The management in question is the establishment of a conservation area that involves fishing communities so that an assessment of the community’s perception of the determination of conservation areas is needed. This study aims to determine the perception of fishing communities towards the establishment of conservation areas in Pongok Island, South Bangka Regency, Bangka Belitung Province, Republic of Indonesia. The selection of respondents was done by using purposive sampling. Data analysis used is descriptive analysis to explain the perception of the fishing community towards the determination of conservation areas. The results of the study show that public perception is quite good because the highest percentage of assessment level is found in the assessment criteria of agree and strongly agree. The community perception on establisment of concervation areas is a high with the level of strongly agree criteria of 34.418% and 55.105% agree criteria and low rating on appraisal criteria are sufficient to agree at 8.827% and disagree at 1.650%.

Fishery potencies as environmental services of Pongok Islands, Bangka Belitung Province

“…These measures aim to minimize the burden on affected species and encourage sustainable fishing techniques. Soeprijadi et al [38] have identified the fishing population on Pongok Island is supportive of the conservation zone establishment. They understand the value of maintaining resources like mangroves, coral reefs, and seagrasses for their ecological services and resource availability.…”

“…They also provide nutrients and plankton abundance that are needed by a different trophic food web. Pongok Islands have a complete coastal ecosystem such as mangroves, seagrass beds, and coral reefs [38]. The seashore of this island is surrounded by mangrove forests consisting of three notable species: Rhizophora sp., Sonneratia sp., Avicenia sp., and Brugiera sp.…”

“…Due to being separated from the mainland of Bangka, this island has a small influence on the mainland's anthropogenic impacts. This island has a complete coastal ecosystem [38] such as mangroves [39], seagrass beds [40], and coral reefs [37]. These ecosystems and environmental conditions around the island, directly and indirectly, denote the abundance of numerous fish and other marine products.…”