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Fishermen lose billions in Tangerang sea fence scandal
The Indonesian Ombudsman’s Banten office estimates that fishers suffered at least Rp 24 billion (US$1.4 million) in income losses after their access to the sea was hindered by a bamboo fence installed illegally off the coast of Tangerang regency.
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A flotilla of boats with Indonesian Navy personnel were dispatched to take down mysterious sea fence on Jan. 23, 2025. (The Jakarta Post/Antara)
T
he Indonesian Ombudsman’s Banten office estimates that fishermen suffered at least Rp 24 billion (US$1.4 million) in income losses after their access to the sea was hindered by a bamboo fence installed illegally off the coast of Tangerang regency.
That is largely because the sea barrier that spans 30 kilometers in the waters of six districts in Tangerang forced some 4,000 fisherfolks living in the area to buy extra fuel to sail their boats longer distances, effectively decreasing their catch.
“Not to mention that the sea barrier has also damaged the boats of these fishermen,” Ombudsman Banten office head Fadli Afriadi told a press conference in Jakarta on Monday.
The estimated losses were calculated from August of last year to January of this year, before the Navy launched an operation to remove the unlicensed barrier on Jan. 18.
The Ombudsman also found indications of crimes in the installation of the sea fence and falsification of permits for land plots on the shoreline facing the sea fence.
“There are strong indications that the sea fence was installed as an attempt to control the waters around it,” Fadli said.
“We therefore urge law enforcement agencies to investigate potential crimes in the illegal installation of the bamboo sea fence.”
