Exploring social-ecological dynamics in an important shark and ray area: a case study of small-scale fisheries in Sumbawa, Indonesia

Journal article

Small-scale fisheries (SSFs) in Indonesia often intersect with ecologically sensitive areas, necessitating integrated approaches to conservation and governance. This study investigates the social-ecological dynamics of SSFs in Lunyuk, Southern Sumbawa—an area designated as an Important Shark and Ray Area (ISRA). Through 224 days of field-based landing observations and stakeholder interviews, we documented 513 elasmobranch individuals, with 64.1% identified as Critically Endangered and Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES)-listed species, notably Sphyrna lewini and Rhynchobatus australiae. Alarmingly, most individuals were below known maturity sizes, and females dominated the catch, highlighting acute conservation concerns. Social Network Analysis (SNA) revealed a moderately centralized but locally anchored governance structure, with fishers, Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), and village leaders acting as key nodes. However, vertical linkages to higher regulatory institutions remained weak, and market actors were structurally peripheral. Qualitative analysis underscored intergenerational identity, economic dependency, and cultural legacy as primary motivators sustaining fishing practices, even under ecological stress. These findings suggest that community-led co-management strategies that align conservation interventions with socio-economic and cultural realities to protect the threatened shark and ray species and local livelihoods.

Authors: Ramdlan, MS; Adrianto, L; Damar, A; Taryono, T; Sukriyani, B

• Publication status: Published
• Peer review status: Peer reviewed
• Publisher: IOP Publishing
• Journal: IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science
• Volume: 1618
• Issue: 1
• Pages: 012012
• Article number: 012012
• Publication date: 2026-05-01
• DOI: 10.1088/1755-1315/1618/1/012012
• EISSN: 1755-1315
• ISSN: 1755-1307
• Language: English