Building Resilience in Coastal Communities: Leveraging Adaptive Governance and Blue Economy in Brebes, Indonesia

Intensifying climate change increases the vulnerability of coastal regions, especially in developing countries like Indonesia, where socioeconomic and environmental impacts are interconnected. Brebes, Indonesia, faces severe compound flooding caused by land subsidence, sea-level rise, and extreme weather events, which disrupt local economies and livelihoods. Milkfish farming has been identified as a viable community-based micro-enterprise that can enhance the economic resilience of coastal communities. This study highlights the importance of adaptive governance and the blue economy as frameworks to strengthen economic and environmental resilience in coastal areas. The study demonstrates how adaptive governance fosters flexibility, inclusiveness, and collaboration among communities, governments, and non-governmental organisations through mixed-methods research, including stakeholder interviews and policy analysis. A key finding is the critical role of livelihood diversification and access to financial resources in supporting milkfish farming as a sustainable business model. Decentralised governance and participatory planning are essential to ensure that milkfish farming provides a viable alternative livelihood for coastal communities while supporting local economies. By promoting adaptive governance structures, this study offers a blueprint for improving economic resilience in coastal cities facing similar climate challenges worldwide. The insights from Brebes can guide efforts in other regions to integrate blue economic strategies into long-term climate adaptation plans.