Headline:
Mysterious 30-KM Sea Wall Emerges in Tangerang, Banten: Government Clueless about Illegitimate Owner
Subheadline:
Fishermen face difficulties due to the sudden appearance of the 6-meter high bamboo wall stretching across 6 districts.
Article:
JAKARTA, CNN INDONESIA — A mysterious 30.16-kilometer (KM) sea wall, made of bamboo or cerucuk, has suddenly appeared along the coastline of Tangerang Regency, Banten. Neither the local nor central government knows who the illegitimate owner of this structure is, leaving local fishermen scrambling to find fish and raise alarms about their livelihoods.
móEli Susiyanti, the Head of the Marine and Fisheries Department (DKP) of Banten Province, revealed that the 6-meter high wall extends across six districts and numerous villages, affecting around 3,888 local fishermen and 502 marine farmers. The wall stretches from several villages in Kecamatan Kronjo and Kecamatan Kemiri, passing through Kecamatan Mauk, Kecamatan Sukadiri, Kecamatan Pakuhaji, and ending in Kecamatan Teluknaga.
"The fishermen are facing difficulties finding fish due to this mysterious wall," Eli explained during a discussion on ‘Sea Wall Issues in Tangerang Banten’ at the Gedung Mina Bahari IV in Jakarta on Tuesday (1/7), as reported by Detikfinance.
The wall’s existence was first reported by locals on August 14, 2024, prompting a DKP team to investigate five days later. They initially found evidence of unauthorized sea wall construction up to 7 kilometers long. A joint team from DKP, the Marine Police, and other relevant agencies returned to the site on September 4-5 and confirmed that there were no permits issued by the local sub-district heads or village chiefs for the construction.
Eli further disclosed that the wall is located in a communal area, as outlined in Banten Province’s Regional Regulation (Perda) Number 1 of 2023 regarding the Spatial Plan for Banten Province (2023-2043). The wall runs through various zones, including sea ports, fishing grounds, tourism areas, fish port zones, energy management zones, and sea farming zones. It also overlaps with a proposed off-shore reservoir project initiated by the National Development Planning Agency (Bappenas).
Director of Marine Spatial Planning at the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (KKP), Suharyanto, acknowledged the existence of the 30-kilometer wall but noted that the ministry had not identified the builder. He mentioned that the Ombudsman was currently investigating the matter, but he could not confirm if the wall was built for land reclamation purposes. He emphasized that any such projects require proper licensing.
"We cannot confirm if it’s for land reclamation purposes. During the licensing process for marine spatial planning, we require strict ecological requirements to be met," Suharyanto said.
The appearance of this mysterious sea wall in Tangerang has left both local and central government officials puzzled, highlighting the need for immediate clarification and action to protect the interests of the affected fishermen and the wider environment.
End of Article
