Seashell Waste Craft as a Community Empowerment Strategy to Improve Creative Economy in Serangan Village, Bali

Abstract

Serangan Village in Denpasar, Bali, is widely recognized as a coastal tourism destination with abundant marine resources. However, seashell waste generated from seafood consumption and coastal activities is often discarded without proper utilization, contributing to environmental pollution. This community service activity aimed to empower local residents by introducing seashell waste as raw material for handicraft products with economic value. The program involved observation, interviews, practical workshops, mentoring, and evaluation involving local community members. Participants were trained to process seashell waste into decorative products such as keychains, photo frames, wall decorations, flower vases, and souvenirs suitable for tourism markets. The implementation showed significant improvement in participants' knowledge and practical skills regarding waste management and creative entrepreneurship. Community members demonstrated enthusiasm in adopting innovative production techniques and expressed interest in continuing the activity as a small-scale business opportunity. Besides reducing environmental waste, the program promoted sustainable tourism and supported local economic development aligned with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly Responsible Consumption and Production, Decent Work and Economic Growth, and Sustainable Communities. The results indicate that transforming seashell waste into creative products can become an effective community empowerment strategy while encouraging environmental conservation and increasing household income.