Strengthening the Role of Coastal Women in the Blue Economy Ecosystem

Abstract

Fishermen Village, Medan Belawan Sub-district is one of the strategic coastal areas but also faces complex challenges, such as environmental degradation, limited infrastructure, and low community access to sustainable economic empowerment programs. Women in this area have high capacity and participatory spirit, but have not been involved in many blue economy-based empowerment programs. The urgency of this research is because Kampung Nelayan in Medan Belawan Sub-district is one of the strategic areas with great marine and fisheries potential, but there is no model and systematic approach that elevates the role and potential of coastal women in blue economy-based development in this area. In fact, strengthening the capacity and participation of women is very important not only to improve the welfare of fishing families, but also as a driver of an inclusive and sustainable local economy. The purpose of this study is to analyze the influence of knowledge about the blue economy, access to resources and training, active participation in coastal economic activities and community and family support on the level of contribution/role of coastal women in the blue economy ecosystem in Kampung Nelayan, Medan Belawan Subdistrict. This study uses a quantitative approach using Structural Equation Modeling with Partial Least Squares (SEM-PLS). The results showed that knowledge of the blue economy has a positive and significant effect on the level of contribution/role of coastal women in the blue economy ecosystem with a coefficient of 0.503 and a P value of 0.000, which means that the effect is very significant.