Mapping of Land Suitability for Development of Vaname Shrimp Cultivation in Pangandaran Regency (Sidamulih-Parigi Sub-Districts), West Java Province

Abstract

Pangandaran Regency has excellent potential for aquaculture development, particularly vaname shrimp ponds along the coast of Sidamulih-Parigi District. However, limited research on regional suitability has contributed to environmental problems and increased coastal vulnerability. Improper pond placement can undermine the efficiency and sustainability of vaname shrimp cultivation. This study aims to assess the potential for developing vaname shrimp cultivation areas around the coast of Pangandaran Regency through multi-criteria spatial analysis and the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP). The multi-criteria analysis applied the Inverse Distance Weighted (IDW) interpolation method, multiple ring buffers, and overlays. Three main factors were evaluated: engineering factors (land use, slope, elevation, and soil texture); water quality and quantity (temperature, salinity, distance to seawater sources, and distance from pollution); and infrastructure factors (proximity to roads, markets, processing facilities, and hatcheries). Spatial analysis results show that pond land suitability in the study area is classified into four categories: very suitable (2,921 hectares or 14.64%), suitable (2,753 hectares or 13.79%), moderately suitable (5,294 hectares or 26.52%), and not suitable (8,993 hectares or 45.05%). The coastal zone is largely classified as very suitable due to readily available seawater and flat topography, whereas inland areas are less suitable because of steeper landforms.