PENTINGNYA MENJAGA LINGKUNGAN MARITIM DALAM MENINGKATKAN PEREKONOMIAN MASYARAKAT PESISIR

Abstract

This community engagement activity aims to enhance coastal communities' awareness and capacity to preserve the maritime environment as a foundation for sustainable economic development. Clean, protected, and productive waters have been shown to directly support the long-term viability of fisheries, marine tourism, and small-scale maritime transportation. Through a series of outreach and training activities, the program delivered practical education on the impacts of marine pollution, particularly waste disposal from vessels, and introduced strategies for coastal ecosystem restoration. Evaluation findings indicate a significant improvement in community understanding of the interdependence between marine ecology and economic welfare. Key challenges identified include limited waste management infrastructure in port and coastal areas, low levels of ecological literacy, and weak enforcement of environmental regulations. This initiative is expected to act as a catalyst for strengthening coastal economies through a conservation-based approach to maritime resources.