Fishermen’s Perspective on the Performance of Panglima Laot in Managing Coastal Areas in Aceh, Indonesia

The existence of the Panglima Laot (sea commander) to sustainably manage coastal areas in Aceh Province faces various problems. Moreover, the role of the Panglima Laot institution is sub-optimal in implementing customary maritime (adat laot) rules for managing coastal areas. This study aims to analyze the institutional performance of Panglima Laot in the sustainable management of coastal areas. This study was conducted in Aceh, Indonesia. Observation and structured interviews (questionnaires) were utilized to gather primary data. Secondary data were acquired from various agencies. Data were analyzed through multiple linear regression analysis, and qualitative data was analyzed by scoring the Likert scale. The performance of the Panglima Laot institution, ranked from highest to lowest, was as follows: (1) the application of customary maritime law, (2) fishermen's compliance with the customary maritime law, (3) the implementation of roles and functions by the Panglima Laot, and (4) dispute resolution among fishermen. The role of Panglima Laot is significant in preserving coastal ecosystems. Enhancing the performance requires developing a strong synergy with the government for effective fisheries supervision and management.