The vulnerability of coastal communities to water pollution in Jakarta bay: integrating livelihood and biophysical approaches

Jakarta Bay, located on the edge of Jakarta megacity, is suffering significant environmental degradation because of pressures from development and rapid urban growth. Water pollution of Jakarta Bay is a prominent environmental problem. Previous research has shown the serious impacts of water pollution on the biophysical system that has contributed to changes of the bay's ecosystem. The traditional fishing communities that rely on the bay's fishery resources have been seriously affected by the consequences of these changes. This research provides better understanding of the less studied aspects of water pollution in Jakarta Bay; that is, how it affects these fishing communities. An integrated approach, that combines livelihood and biophysical analysis, was applied to investigate the impacts of water pollution on the traditional fishing community, their coping strategies and the factors that shape their vulnerability to water pollution. Three occupational groups represent vulnerable household types (traditional fishers, mussel farmers and informal workers) took part in interviews. Information from the participatory activities of these households (n = 294) produced new data about their livelihood characteristics (in the context of livelihood capital) and their knowledge of water pollution. An analysis of water quality (analysed statistically and spatially from government data) was combined with the results of participatory mapping to estimate each group's exposure to water pollution. Concurrently, a vulnerability assessment, was performed based on the elements of exposure, sensitivity and adaptive capacity. This research contributes new insights about how groups in the community had been affected differently by and had adapted their livelihoods to the consequences of water pollution. This research has revealed that the fishing community was the most vulnerable to water pollution because of their high sensitivity and exposure to water pollution. This investigation of vulnerability contributes important evidence to guide management responses to improve the well-being of this fishing community. It became clear that an effective way to improve their livelihoods is to reduce their exposure and at the same time to build their capacity to adapt. Detailed recommendations for further research and management were developed to be a valuable source of information for researchers, policy makers and managers