RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - The Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) is developing a pilot project for Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) based on community involvement in the waters of Pantai Mertasari, Sanur, Bali. This program, the first of its kind in Indonesia, is expected to strengthen the role of the community in planning and managing the sustainable use of marine space.

Mertasari Beach, which has a coastline of 5.5 kilometers, is an area dominated by tourism zones based on the Regional Regulation on the Spatial Planning of Bali Province 2023–2043. The area also has a blue carbon ecosystem in the form of seagrass beds and coral reefs, and is utilized for port activities, fishing, tourism, traditional ceremonies, and as an alternative landing site for seaplanes.

The Director of the Utilization of Water Column and Seabed Space at the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries, Didit Eko Prasetiyo, said that marine spatial planning must be implemented at the community level so that its benefits can be directly felt. According to him, this approach is key to balancing economic, ecological, and community welfare interests.

"The management of marine space must indeed be grounded, implemented down to the community level. This way, we can synergize not only from the economic and ecological aspects but also ensure that the community benefits," Didit said in an official statement on Monday, July 27, 2026.

As an initial step, the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) has gathered input from various stakeholders thru a Focus Group Discussion (FGD) in Sanur, Bali. The forum involved elements from the central and regional governments, academics, indigenous communities, media, and business actors to formulate a plan for the utilization of marine space in the Mertasari Beach area.

The leader of the discussion forum from IPB University, Prof. Dr. Ir. Akhmad Fauzi, said that the participants hope the implementation of community-based MSP can maintain ecosystem sustainability, increase community income, and prevent conflicts among stakeholders in the utilization of marine space.

"This initiative is a very good breakthrough, because the ones who best understand how to prosper the community are not only the government but also the community itself. This model is expected to become an example of more sustainable and effective marine spatial planning," he conveyed.

The Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) aims to implement the community-based MSP pilot project at Mertasari Beach starting next October. The results of discussions with stakeholders will serve as the basis for drafting the implementation document to realize a more inclusive, sustainable, and community-oriented marine spatial planning that also prioritizes ecosystem preservation.