The strategic role of stakeholders in governing sustainable capture fisheries in Rokan Hilir Regency, Indonesia

Abstract

This study examines the strategic roles of stakeholders in the governance of capture Misheries in Rokan Hilir Regency, Riau Province, Indonesia. Data were collected through document reviews, secondary sources, and interviews with 14 key stakeholders, including government agencies, Misher groups, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), business actors, and academics. Stakeholders were analyzed and mapped based on their levels of interest and inMluence to understand their relative roles in Misheries governance. The analysis identiMied four main categories: key actors, such as government institutions, which possess both high authority and inMluence in decision-making; subjects, including Misher groups and cooperatives, who demonstrate strong interest but have limited inMluence over policy outcomes; context setters, represented by NGOs and academics, who exert signiMicant inMluence through advocacy, technical knowledge, and public discourse; and crowds, consisting of actors with low interest and limited inMluence in Misheriesrelated activities. Findings indicate that current stakeholder engagement remains suboptimal, particularly in policy coordination and the integration of local knowledge into management processes. To address these gaps, the study recommends strengthening collaboration through multistakeholder consortia, early-stage participatory planning, interactive communication, capacity building, and participatory monitoring. Enhancing these mechanisms is essential for improving policy legitimacy, promoting adaptive management, supporting ecological sustainability, enhancing Misher welfare, and ensuring the long-Term resilience of capture Misheries in Rokan Hilir.