This study adopts a qualitative research approach employing a case study strategy. Qualitative research is particularly suitable for exploring contextualized social phenomena through non-numeric data such as narratives, documents, and observed interactions, and is especially effective in addressing complex “how” and “why” research questions situated within real-life settings. ^{21, 22}

A case study strategy was selected because it enables an in-depth examination of multi-agency coordination dynamics in combating IUU fishing within the North Natuna Sea an empirically bounded, contemporary, and geopolitically sensitive maritime space. Given the intersection of sovereignty, security, and resource governance in this region, a case study approach allows for the integration of multiple sources of evidence and institutional perspectives. ^{23, 24} The North Natuna Sea constitutes a complex maritime arena shaped by geopolitical contestation in the South China Sea, ^{25, 26} and long-standing maritime community interactions in Southeast Asia, ²⁷ making it analytically suitable for qualitative case-based inquiry.

This study utilizes both primary and secondary data.

Primary data were obtained through in-depth interviews with key informants, including officials from maritime law enforcement agencies, fisheries supervisors, and local actors involved in the implementation of IUU fishing countermeasures. These interviews were designed to capture institutional experiences, operational challenges, and perceptions of multi-agency coordination within the broader maritime security framework. ^{24, 28}

Secondary data include national and regional policy documents, official institutional reports, inter-agency coordination records, and recent scholarly literature addressing maritime resilience, governance, and fisheries enforcement. Literature examining geopolitical dynamics, ²⁵ maritime administrative control, ²⁶ border area development strategies, ²⁸ and ecological-economic fisheries profiles, ^{29– 31} were incorporated to contextualize enforcement within broader structural and socio-ecological dynamics. Additionally, research on resource deployment and maritime operational optimization ³² and global fisheries externalities ³³ informed the analytical framing of enforcement effectiveness and structural pressures. The combination of primary and secondary sources ensures methodological triangulation, thereby strengthening interpretive validity and analytical depth. ^{21, 22}

Data collection techniques included semi-structured interviews, document analysis, and limited participatory observation of inter-agency coordination processes. Semi-structured interviews were designed to elicit in-depth perspectives on coordination mechanisms, institutional constraints, enforcement strategies, and the perceived contribution of multi-agency approaches to maritime resilience. A total of 15 key informants were interviewed, representing fisheries supervision authorities (PSDKP), the Indonesian Navy, Badan Keamanan Laut, the Maritime Police, prosecutorial institutions, regional government officials, and civil society monitoring organizations. Informants were selected using purposive sampling based on their direct institutional involvement in IUU enforcement and maritime security coordination in the North Natuna Sea. Interviews continued until thematic saturation was achieved. Document analysis involved systematic review of strategic plans, maritime patrol standard operating procedures, enforcement reports, and institutional mandates to understand the regulatory and operational context of policy implementation.

Participatory observation allowed the researcher to document patterns of interaction, decision-making processes, and coordination dynamics among maritime enforcement institutions. Such multi-method qualitative techniques are consistent with established qualitative design principles that emphasize contextual immersion and data richness. ²¹

The literature review and secondary data search were conducted using systematic inclusion and exclusion criteria. Inclusion criteria comprised: 1.

Publications between 2018 and 2025;

Studies published before 2018, lacking relevance to institutional coordination or IUU fishing, or unavailable for public access were excluded. The screening process followed critical appraisal principles for qualitative research to ensure credibility and relevance. ²²

The unit of analysis includes inter-agency interactions, institutional policy documentation, and narratives from key informants involved in the implementation of IUU fishing countermeasures. Institutions examined include maritime enforcement bodies and coordinating agencies operating within Indonesia’s maritime governance architecture. Purposive sampling was employed to select key informants based on their direct involvement in enforcement coordination, strategic decision-making, or operational implementation. This sampling strategy ensures depth of experiential insight and relevance to the research questions. ²¹

Ethical Approval

This study has received ethical approval from the Research Division, Graduate School, Universitas Gadjah Mada, under approval number 8322/UN1/SPs.1.1/AKM/PT/12/2025. The research involved qualitative data collection through semi-structured interviews with professional informants from relevant maritime and enforcement institutions. Prior to participation, all informants were provided with detailed information regarding the purpose, procedures, and voluntary nature of the study. Oral informed consent was obtained from all participants before data collection, as described in the Methods section (Data Collection Techniques). The use of oral consent was considered appropriate due to the professional status of the informants and the institutional context of the interviews, where formal written consent could potentially reduce openness, create administrative barriers, or raise sensitivity concerns related to organizational protocols and confidentiality. The consent process was documented by the researcher at the beginning of each interview. No participants in this study were minors; therefore, parental consent or assent procedures were not required. To ensure confidentiality and privacy, all participants’ identities were anonymized during transcription, analysis, and reporting. All procedures were conducted in accordance with applicable ethical standards for research involving human participants.

Data were analyzed using inductive thematic analysis complemented by narrative synthesis. Thematic analysis involved systematic identification, coding, and categorization of recurring patterns across interview transcripts, policy documents, and observation notes. The analytical process included data familiarization, initial coding, theme development, thematic refinement, and interpretative synthesis within the conceptual framework of multi-agency governance and maritime resilience. Narrative synthesis was employed to integrate thematic findings into a coherent explanatory account linking empirical evidence with policy and geopolitical contexts. This approach enables interpretation of how institutional coordination functions in practice and how it contributes to broader maritime resilience objectives.

The findings indicate that IUU fishing in the North Natuna Sea cannot be understood solely as a fisheries law violation. Interview data reveal that illegal fishing activities are closely intertwined with broader geopolitical contestation in the South China Sea. Informants from maritime enforcement agencies emphasized that incursions by foreign fishing vessels frequently coincide with heightened diplomatic tensions and administrative assertions by external actors. This aligns with scholarship highlighting the strategic intersection of geopolitics, sustainability, and maritime leadership in the South China Sea. ^{25, 34} The administrative consolidation strategies observed in the region further demonstrate how fisheries activities can function as instruments of state presence and maritime influence.

Moreover, respondents identified patterns consistent with transnational organized fisheries crime. These findings reflect broader analyses showing that illegal fishing networks often operate through complex cross-border supply chains and illicit economic systems. ^{35– 37} Global fisheries subsidies and market-driven expansion of distant-water fleets contribute to structural pressures that extend beyond Indonesia’s jurisdiction. ³³ Thus, the first research question is addressed by demonstrating that IUU fishing in the North Natuna Sea constitutes a multidimensional threat shaped by geopolitical rivalry, global economic incentives, and transnational criminal networks.

Document analysis confirms that Indonesia’s legal framework for fisheries enforcement is structurally comprehensive. Undang-Undang Nomor 45 Tahun 2009 tentang Perikanan ³ provides the primary legal basis for fisheries management and sanctions. Peraturan Pemerintah Nomor 60 Tahun 2007 regulates monitoring and surveillance mechanisms. Institutional coordination is strengthened through Peraturan Presiden Nomor 178 Tahun 2014, which establishes Badan Keamanan Laut, and Peraturan Presiden Nomor 115 Tahun 2015, which formalizes Satgas 115 as a multi-agency task force. Operational procedures were further institutionalized under Peraturan Menteri Kelautan dan Perikanan Nomor 24/PERMEN-KP/2020. Indonesia’s fisheries monitoring architecture relies on an integrated VMS-based surveillance system linking satellite transmission, catch reporting, and inter-agency data exchange. Figure 2 illustrates the operational structure of this monitoring system.

Figure 2 illustrates the operational architecture of Indonesia’s fisheries monitoring system, including VMS transmission, satellite relay (INMARSAT-D), catch data reporting (ERS), and inter-agency data exchange with RFMO and national authorities. The system forms the technological backbone of maritime enforcement and surveillance under the multi-agency framework.

Interview findings suggest that the one roof enforcement model significantly improved inter-agency coordination, intelligence-sharing, and rapid response capacity. Informants reported clearer command structures and reduced institutional overlap compared to previous sectoral approaches. This corresponds with international evidence demonstrating that integrated monitoring, control, and surveillance (MCS) systems enhance enforcement effectiveness. ^{38, 39}

However, the data also reveal operational constraints. Enforcement capacity remains highly dependent on resource allocation, patrol funding, and technological integration. Compared to emerging international practices involving drones, satellite-based monitoring, and integrated ocean observing systems, ^{40, 41} technological utilization in the North Natuna Sea remains partially fragmented. Interviews indicate that while regulatory norms are robust, implementation gaps persist a pattern similarly observed in comparative studies of IUU enforcement regimes. ⁴² Beyond satellite-based detection and vessel monitoring, Indonesia’s enforcement framework relies on a structured reporting and compliance chain that regulates fishing operations from departure to landing. Figure 3 illustrates this regulatory control cycle.

While the reporting sequence provides a comprehensive compliance structure, interview findings indicate that enforcement gaps often occur at the stages of transshipment verification and port-based inspection.

A key empirical finding concerns the distinction between short-term enforcement outputs and long-term maritime resilience. Interviewees acknowledged that intensified patrols and vessel apprehensions led to temporary reductions in illegal fishing activity. However, they also emphasized that such reductions were often cyclical and reactive. This observation is consistent with literature arguing that fisheries crime undermines broader ocean resilience and sustainable blue economy objectives. ⁴³ Without structural reforms addressing local vulnerability, economic incentives, and governance participation, enforcement alone cannot generate systemic resilience. Several informants highlighted the limited integration of community-based management and co-management mechanisms in Natuna. Comparative research demonstrates that collaborative fisheries governance can enhance compliance legitimacy and ecological sustainability. ^{44, 45} Community-driven insights and participatory governance approaches have proven critical in other fisheries contexts. ^{46, 47} Sustainable maritime resilience requires diversification of economic alternatives, strengthening fisheries value chains, ⁴⁸ and climate adaptation strategies for small-scale fishers. ⁴⁹ In the absence of these complementary measures, enforcement risks remaining enforcement-centric rather than resilience-oriented.

The final theme concerns institutional adaptability. While Satgas 115 functions effectively as a coordinated enforcement mechanism, evidence suggests that it operates primarily in a reactive security framework rather than as part of a transformative governance model. Institutional effectiveness research indicates that policy durability depends on administrative capacity, inter-agency coherence, and regulatory consistency. ⁵⁰ Lessons from quota-based and total allowable catch (TAC) pilot reforms in other jurisdictions illustrate how incremental institutional experimentation can strengthen fisheries governance sustainability. ⁵¹ Digitalization and integrated data systems represent additional pathways toward governance transformation. Operationalizing digital sustainability (“digitainability”) can enhance monitoring transparency and reduce enforcement costs. ⁵² However, interview data suggest that Indonesia’s enforcement system has yet to fully integrate such systemic innovations. Thus, the transition from enforcement to resilience remains incomplete. The current model improves tactical coordination but requires deeper institutional reform to achieve structural and adaptive maritime governance.

In response to the first research question, the findings confirm that IUU fishing in the North Natuna Sea is a multidimensional phenomenon shaped by geopolitical rivalry, global economic pressures, and transnational criminal structures. Regarding the second question, the multi-agency approach under Satgas 115 demonstrates improved coordination and operational efficiency but remains resource-dependent and institutionally fragile. Concerning the third question, the policy’s contribution to maritime resilience is partial. Without integration of co-management, economic restructuring, and institutional innovation, the system risks remaining enforcement-centric rather than resilience-based.

The findings demonstrate that IUU fishing in the North Natuna Sea cannot be adequately addressed through a purely enforcement-centric lens. While Indonesia’s multi-agency approach under Satgas 115 enhances operational deterrence, the empirical evidence confirms that IUU fishing in this region is embedded within geopolitical rivalry, global fisheries markets, and transnational crime networks.

This aligns with scholarship emphasizing that fisheries crime increasingly operates within organized and transnational structures. ^{35, 36} The North Natuna Sea, situated within the contested South China Sea geopolitical arena, further complicates enforcement efforts. ^{25, 34} Thus, IUU fishing here represents a governance complexity problem rather than a discrete compliance violation.

From a policy evaluation perspective, the OECD framework helps clarify this complexity. The findings show that while Indonesia’s response is relevant and partially effective, it addresses primarily the security dimension of the problem. Structural drivers including global subsidy regimes, ³³ distant-water fleet expansion, and regional governance asymmetries remain beyond the reach of national enforcement alone. Therefore, the central challenge is not the absence of enforcement capacity, but the need to transition from deterrence-based governance to systemic maritime resilience. ⁵³

The results indicate measurable improvements in horizontal institutional coherence. Asset integration, intelligence-sharing, and joint patrol mechanisms have reduced fragmentation previously observed in Indonesia’s maritime enforcement architecture.

This confirms international evidence that integrated monitoring, control, and surveillance (MCS) systems enhance enforcement effectiveness. ^{38, 39} The one roof enforcement model represents a significant institutional innovation within Indonesia’s maritime governance system. While Indonesia’s monitoring and reporting architecture is structurally comprehensive, the enforcement response largely follows a reactive escalation logic. Figure 4 illustrates the monitoring-to-investigation escalation pathway embedded within the current enforcement system.

The system demonstrates strong absorptive capacity through rapid alert generation and investigative referral. However, it lacks embedded feedback loops that would institutionalize adaptive learning and preventive governance mechanisms.

However, the empirical findings reveal that coordination remains dependent on centralized political prioritization and extraordinary policy measures. Such dependency reflects what can be described as operational coherence without structural institutionalization. Comparative research suggests that durable governance systems require embedded institutional mechanisms rather than ad hoc coordination frameworks. ⁴² Without stable financing structures, long-term integration of technological systems, and vertical policy alignment with coastal governance actors, coordination risks regression when political momentum declines. Thus, the Indonesian case highlights a broader governance paradox: multi-agency consolidation can improve short-term coherence but does not automatically produce institutional resilience.

The study confirms that intensified patrols and vessel apprehensions reduce illegal fishing activity during peak enforcement periods. However, the cyclical re-emergence of IUU activity when patrol intensity declines suggests that deterrence effects remain input-dependent. This pattern reinforces findings from global fisheries enforcement literature that surveillance intensity alone cannot produce structural compliance transformation. ³⁸ Deterrence may suppress illegal behavior temporarily but does not eliminate underlying economic incentives. Moreover, technological modernization such as drone surveillance, satellite monitoring, and integrated observing systems remains unevenly institutionalized in Indonesia. ⁴¹ In contrast, digital governance integration is increasingly recognized as central to sustainable maritime monitoring systems. ⁵² Therefore, effectiveness in the North Natuna Sea should be understood as operationally significant but systemically fragile.

Applying a maritime resilience framework provides deeper insight into policy limitations. The findings indicate strong absorptive capacity: Indonesia can respond rapidly to maritime violations through coordinated operations. This reflects significant state capability in mobilizing enforcement resources under crisis conditions.

However, adaptive capacity remains limited. There is insufficient institutionalized learning, limited integration of fisheries co-management mechanisms, and weak engagement with coastal communities. Comparative research demonstrates that participatory governance strengthens long-term compliance and ecological sustainability. ^{44, 45} Transformative capacity shifting from enforcement-driven control to integrated fisheries governance also remains underdeveloped. Successful governance reforms elsewhere, such as quota-based experimentation and total allowable catch pilots, ⁵¹ illustrate how incremental institutional transformation can reduce enforcement dependency. In the North Natuna Sea, enforcement remains the dominant policy instrument, while structural fisheries management reform, economic diversification strategies, and regional diplomatic engagement remain secondary. Thus, Indonesia’s maritime governance system appears to be in a transitional phase between deterrence and resilience.

Ultimately, the Indonesian experience in the North Natuna Sea illustrates both the strengths and limitations of enforcement-centric policy. The multi-agency consolidation under Satgas 115 constitutes a necessary foundation for maritime security in a contested region. Yet enforcement alone cannot generate durable maritime resilience. Building long-term resilience requires institutional stability, governance innovation, socio-economic integration, and regional cooperation. The transition from enforcement to resilience is therefore not merely operational but structural. This transition represents the central conceptual contribution of this article: demonstrating that combating IUU fishing in contested maritime spaces demands not only stronger patrols, but smarter governance systems capable of learning, adapting, and transforming over time.

Table 1 presents enforcement outcomes in the North Natuna Sea from 2020 to May 2025, showing 147 apprehended vessels (85 domestic and 62 foreign) and an estimated IDR 2.1 trillion in prevented state losses. The data indicate strong short-term deterrence capacity under Indonesia’s integrated maritime enforcement operations, particularly during joint patrols coordinated through Satgas 115. The significant share of foreign vessels confirms the transnational and security-sensitive nature of IUU fishing in the North Natuna Sea. However, fluctuations in capture numbers suggest that enforcement performance remains closely tied to operational intensity and resource allocation.

The findings suggest four strategic policy directions: a.

Institutionalization of coordination mechanisms beyond extraordinary measures, including permanent inter-agency funding frameworks;

Such shifts would move Indonesia from reactive deterrence toward systemic resilience.

This study contributes to maritime governance scholarship in three ways: a.

It empirically demonstrates how a one roof enforcement system functions within a geopolitically contested maritime environment.

By reframing IUU fishing as a governance complexity problem rather than solely a compliance issue, the study extends international debates on fisheries crime, maritime security, and sustainable ocean governance.