STUDYING COASTAL COMMUNITIES IN THE BANGKA BELITUNG ISLANDS PROVINCE FROM A SOCIOECONOMIC AND CULTURAL PERSPECTIVE

Abstract

The coastal area in the Bangka Belitung Islands Province has high mangrove biodiversity with
an area of 67,386 Ha. The purpose of the study was to examine the social, economic, and
cultural aspects of the coastal communities of the Bangka Belitung Islands Province. The
research method was a survey. Data collection consisted of primary and secondary data.
Primary data were obtained directly from in-depth interviews with 129 informants from 13
coastal villages determined purposively on Bangka Island and Belitung Island. Primary data
collection used questionnaires, observation and documentation. Secondary data were obtained
from the village office and related agencies. The results of the study, the social conditions of
the community include PLN electricity sources, the main source of water for the community is
well water, the transportation route is land transportation, public facilities include mosques,
prayer rooms, soccer fields, volleyball courts, village libraries and the main signal towers are
Telkomsel and Indosat. The religion practiced by the majority of the community is Islam. The
types of work of the coastal village community recorded consist of educators, medical
personnel, midwives, traders, fishermen, self-employed, unemployed and others. Economic
conditions include district/city GRDP, namely the highest GRDP value in Bangka Regency in
2023 of IDR 11,756,196 million and the lowest in East Belitung Regency of IDR 6,211,049
million. Local wisdom or culture in the Bangka Belitung Islands Province includes: Maulid,
Ruahan, Isra miraj, nisfu syaban, Satu Muharram, Rebo kasan, Peh Cun and Perang Ketupat.
Public perception of the existence of mangrove forests and unconventional mining in coastal
areas is in the Good category, while community participation in mangrove
rehabilitation/protection and coastal community preferences related to the economy that they
want to develop are in the Medium category. The economic preferences that they want to
develop are fish, shrimp and crab cultivation, fish processing such as kemplang and shrimp
paste, nipah crafts and mangrove tourism.