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Innovative Conservation
 

What is the response of a key fishery – mudcrabs – to community conservation in West Kalimantan, Indonesia?

A community-led story of fisheries management and resilience.

Explore Findings
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Our Core Model

We work through four connected pillars that put communities in the lead to restore ecosystems and strengthen livelihoods.

  • Inclusive Governance
    Community-led governance groups make and enforce local rules, coordinate partners, and steward resources with transparency.
  • Rights & Access
    Communities secure legal rights and fair access to lands, waters, and resources so local rules can work in practice.
  • Natural Resource Management
    Practical tools and incentives—like no-take zones and monitoring—support sustainable use and habitat recovery.
  • Regenerative Wellbeing
    Financial inclusion and essential services (health, education) help families thrive while sustaining conservation gains.
 

Coastal communities in Southeast Asia depend on healthy mud crab populations for food and income. Overfishing has put both crabs and community livelihoods at risk, prompting the adoption of community-based no-take zones — areas where fishing is not allowed.

 

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Why Mudcrabs Matter

Tying claws for safe handling

Mud crabs are both ecologically and economically important. They support coastal food systems, but are often harvested before reaching maturity, making their populations vulnerable. They are a key source of food and income, yet overharvesting threatens their future — and the livelihoods of the communities who depend on them.

Food security
Staple protein for households.
Income
Reliable cash for small-scale fishers.
Ecology
Key species in mangrove ecosystems.
Pressure
Early harvest + overfishing.
 
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Community Leadership in Conservation

CBNTZs and project sites map

Local community governance groups are taking the lead by establishing no-take zones. These are not outside interventions, but locally managed strategies built on community knowledge, tenure rights, and shared governance.

 

How We Measured Impact

To measure impact, the study combined two types of data:

  • Fisheries independent transects and surveys (measuring crab size and growth)
  • Fisher reports (documenting catch per fishing trip over time)

This dual approach provides a more accurate and holistic picture.