DEVELOPMENT OF SUSTAINABLE SHRIMP FARMING BASED ON LAND SUITABILITY AND COASTAL WATERS CARRYING CAPACITY

This research aims to examine the opportunities for developing a sustainable shrimp farming according to the carrying capacity of the waters. It explores the suitability of coastal land, and assess the carrying capacity of the coastal waters for shrimp farming. The suitability analysis method used the Geographic Information System (GIS) based on the physical-chemical spatial data of the waters. Analysis of the carrying capacity of the environment was based on the total volume of sea water and the capacity of available dissolved oxygen in the waters. The overall result of the study indicated that the entire farming area in Pasangkayu Regency was of 3,965.76 ha, comprising of 732.95 Ha of a highly suitable land, 2,984.98 Ha of a suitable land, and 247.83 Ha of a conditionally suitable land. With regard to the water carrying capacity to accommodate organic waste and for keeping the development of shrimp farming sustainable, the area for intensive farming was much smaller than that for semi-intensive and traditional farming.