Since June 2025, the TRG Blue Economics research team has been actively conducting field data collection across three coastal areas in South Sulawesi: Makassar, Pangkep, and Bulukumba. This is part of the ongoing research project titled “Community-Based Management Towards Sustainable Blue Economy in Coastal South Sulawesi,” which has currently reached approximately 80% completion.
Trained enumerators have conducted structured interviews using culturally sensitive and participatory approaches, engaging a wide spectrum of community members—from fishers and seaweed farmers to housewives, market vendors, teachers, youth, and local elders. These diverse voices are vital in capturing the nuanced realities of coastal livelihoods and in identifying both barriers and opportunities for inclusive blue economy development.
The collected data will inform evidence-based recommendations for policy and training design and support the development of a community empowerment model tailored to local contexts.
