<p>Sustainable use of sea cucumbers (<i>Holothuria scabra</i>) includes sea cucumber juvenile grow-out operations in coastal areas until they reach commercial size (sea ranching). One factor that influences the success of sea cucumber grow-out is the location of the sea ranching. A prototype sea ranching program was carried out in Selayar Islands Regency of Indonesia with the involvement of the local community to determine the most suitable location for sea cucumber grow-out through community participation and habitat assessment in the Bontoharu and Bontosikuyu Districts. Participatory mapping through focus group discussion (FGD) was conducted as a community-led approach to determine suitable locations. The participatory mapping was evaluated through a multi-criteria decision analysis based on 12 ecological and socioeconomic parameters to determine grow-out sites for <i>H. scabra</i>. Substrate type and the effects of seasonal changes are crucial ecological parameters as part of habitat assessment. Site access is the most important socioeconomic parameter in determining sea cucumber ranching locations. The results of the participatory mapping show that 13 and 15 sites were recommended in Bontoharu and Bontosikuyu, respectively, and the multi-criteria decision analysis shows four suitable sites in Bontoharu and one suitable site in Bontosikuyu for sea ranching. Participatory mapping involving the local community helped socialize community participation and served as a basis for habitat assessment. Therefore, the selected sites were determined by the suitability of the parameters and the aspirations of the local community.</p>