Sea Fence Dismantling Use Joint Funds, Fisheries Minister Says

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Minister of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (KKP), Sakti Wahyu Trenggono, claimed that the budget for dismantling the in the waters of Tangerang, Banten, came from joint funds. "If we talk about the budget for dismantling the sea fence in Tangerang, it’s pooled funds," Trenggono said in the press conference after a meeting with Commission IV of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR) at the Nusantara Building, Parliament Complex, Senayan, Jakarta, on Thursday, January 23, 2025.

Trenggono did not specify the amount of funds used to dismantle the sea fence, which lacked approval for the conformity of sea space utilization activities (PKKPRL) from the KKP. He acknowledged that his ministry, with cross-sectoral parties and fishermen, would complete the sea fence dismantling, even using joint funds. Trenggono also did not reveal the parties involved in the pooled funding. "Because of the pressure from everyone to have it dismantled immediately, we’re doing it in any way possible. So, it’s like the budget hasn’t been fully calculated; we’re just pooling funds," he said.

The sea fence dismantling in Tangerang has been ongoing since Wednesday, January 22, 2025. The Fisheries Ministry, with personnel from the Indonesian Navy (TNI AL), the Maritime Security Agency (Bakamla), the Water Police (Polairud), the Sea and Coast Guard Unit (KPLP), and the local fishing community, have been carrying out the dismantling process. It has so far covered 5 kilometers (km) of the total 30.16 km length of the sea fence. Trenggono asserted that it will continue until it's completed.

"The dismantling will not stop; it is ongoing. Today, the work continues. There are 460 personnel from KKP and 750 from the Indonesian Navy. Then, there are also members of the fishing community," he said.

As the sea fence is being dismantled, the government has yet to reveal the mastermind behind the installation of this illegal bamboo fence. However, there has been progress in uncovering details regarding the issuance of certificates for the plots of sea space.

The Minister of Agrarian Affairs and Spatial Planning/Head of the National Land Agency (ATR/BPN), Nusron Wahid, previously outlined the details regarding the building certificate (SHGB) and the ownership certificate (SHM) in the sea fence area in Tangerang, Banten.

He mentioned at least 263 plots of land in the form of SHGB, with 234 registered under the name of PT Intan Agung Makmur, 20 under the name of PT Cahaya Inti Sentosa, and 9 under individual names. Additionally, there are SHMs for 17 lands.

Although the owners of the lands have been identified, Nusron has yet to openly state who is behind the installation of the sea fence. Similarly, other officials, such as Minister of KKP Sakti Wahyu Trenggono, have remained silent when asked about the perpetrators of the sea fencing.

Despite the illegal installation, the dismantling process has involved a significant amount of resources from various agencies, including the budget. The Indonesian Navy’s Public Affairs Officer stated that each agency involved in the dismantling is covering the operational costs of the sea fence removal independently.

Meanwhile, Trenggono confirmed that the funds for dismantling the are still sourced from communal contributions. “This is still a joint effort in terms of funding,” he said during a press conference at Tanjung Pasir Beach last Wednesday. The dismantling of the sea fence continues amid several questions.

Hammam Izzudin contributed to this report.

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