Livelihood Changes and Socioeconomic Vulnerability of Seaweed Farmers in Nickel Mining-Affected Coastal Areas of Southeast Sulawesi, Indonesia

Abstract

Seaweed farming has long been one of the most important coastal livelihood activities in Southeast Sulawesi, Indonesia, yet the rapid expansion of nickel mining in the province has raised serious concerns about the sustainability of this sector and the welfare of the households that depend on it. This study aimed to examine changes in seaweed farming conditions, identify livelihood transformation strategies, and analyze the socioeconomic vulnerability of seaweed farming households in nickel mining-affected coastal areas of Southeast Sulawesi. A mixed-methods design was employed in three coastal regencies Kolaka, Konawe Selatan, and Konawe Utara purposively selected as major seaweed-producing areas experiencing significant mining-related environmental change. Primary data were collected between June and September 2022 through household surveys, direct observation, in-depth interviews, and focus group discussions with active and former seaweed farmers, complemented by secondary statistical data on seaweed and nickel production trends. Quantitative data were analyzed descriptively, while qualitative data were analyzed using the interactive model of data condensation, display, and conclusion verification, guided by the Sustainable Livelihood Framework. The results show that provincial seaweed production declined by more than 63 percent between 2014 and 2019, with declines reaching 90.36 percent in Kolaka Regency and complete cessation of cultivation in Konawe Utara Regency, coinciding with a substantial increase in nickel production. Affected households adopted economic coping strategies, livelihood diversification into fishing and informal trading, and social coping mechanisms based on kinship and community support. Socioeconomic vulnerability emerged from the interaction of declining natural capital, limited livelihood alternatives, low educational attainment, and financial insecurity, although social capital partially mitigated these impacts. The findings underscore the need for integrated coastal management policies that balance mineral resource development with the sustainability of coastal livelihoods