ASIATODAY.ID, BANTEN – People in Indonesia were shocked by the discovery of an illegal 30-kilometer sea fence in Tangerang, Banten.
The Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries of the Republic of Indonesia immediately took firm steps by sealing the fence because it did not have a basic permit for Marine Spatial Utilization Activities and was located in the Capture Fisheries Zone and Energy Management Zone which caused losses for fishermen and had the potential to damage coastal ecosystems.
The Indonesian Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, Sakti Wahyu Trenggono, directed that all marine space utilization activities that do not have basic permits and have the potential to damage biodiversity and cause changes in the function of marine space, such as marine fencing, to be stopped immediately, because they are not in accordance with the international practice of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS 1982) and can threaten ecological sustainability.
The Director General of Marine Resources and Fisheries Supervision, Pung Nugroho Saksono, who was directly involved in carrying out the sealing on Thursday, January 9 2024, stated that this step was the government’s firm stance in responding to complaints from local fishermen and enforcing applicable regulations regarding marine spatial planning.
“We are currently stopping fencing activities while continuing to investigate who the perpetrators are responsible for this activity,” concluded Ipung.
Ipung explained that previously, a joint team of Special Marine Police from the Directorate General of Marine Resources and Fisheries Supervision and the Banten Maritime and Fisheries Service had carried out investigations in villages and sub-districts around the location of the sea fence in September 2024.
From the results of investigations and taking aerial photos using drones, it is known that the sea fence starts from Margamulya Village to Ketapang Village. Then Patra Manggala Village to Ketapang Village. It is known that the basic construction material for fencing is bamboo cerucuk. The location of the fence is within the Capture Fisheries Zone and Energy Management Zone.
Ombudsman Investigation
The Ombudsman of the Republic of Indonesia, through the Banten Representative Office, conducted an Investigation on Own Initiative (IAPS) regarding the appearance of a mysterious 30 kilometer sea fence in Tangerang Regency, Banten.
Ombudsman member Hery Susanto said the fencing using bamboo fences and cerucuks with an average height of 6 meters had disturbed fishermen’s activities.
“Marine fencing in the Tangerang area has been in the spotlight, especially from the Ombudsman’s perspective. This issue cannot be separated from violations of community rights which are often ignored in the decision-making process,” said Herry, quoted from the Ombudsman’s official website, Friday, January 10 2025.
The Ombudsman emphasized that transparency and community participation are key in any project that has a direct impact on the environment and social life of residents.
Hery also said that bamboo fences installed without permission not only hinder the movement of fishing boats, but also disrupt the flow of sea water and damage marine habitat. Not only from ecosystems but also from humans. Damage to this ecosystem can cause a decline in the quality of the marine environment and threaten the sustainability of marine resources in the region.
Until now, the owner of the 30 kilometer long sea fence is still a mystery. The government is still carrying out comprehensive investment, was this fence built by a certain company that wanted to land sea plots in the area, or was it carried out by civilians? Interesting to wait. (AT Network)
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