The October 2000 grounding of MT Natuna Sea in Indonesian waters, resulting in a 7,000-ton crude oil spill, serves as a stark reminder of the environmental vulnerabilities facing critical maritime routes. This incident not only highlighted the fragility of straits—once symbols of international connectivity—but also emphasized the urgent need for robust governance structures to safeguard these vital resources. This paper applies Elinor Ostrom's institutional framework of the commons to conceptualize straits as shared resources, extending beyond surface waters to encompass fisheries, groundwater, and energy reserves. Through this lens, we propose three interconnected research avenues: (1) Examining maritime governance systems in relation to international law, with a focus on the applicability of Ostrom's principles to transboundary resource management. (2) Analyzing fishing policies and disputes within the context of common-pool resource theory, exploring how collaborative governance models might mitigate conflicts and promote sustainability. (3) Investigating water and energy resource management in strait regions, considering the complex interplay between local, national, and international stakeholders. By framing straits as commons, this study aims to illuminate power dynamics and actor interactions in resource management, contributing to a more nuanced understanding of maritime governance in an era of increasing environmental challenges.
