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Fisherfolk, locals fight for rights as zoning plans ignore their wellbeing
In East Kalimantan, for example, coastal areas that are designated for fisherfolk amounted to 25.2 hectares for 137,553 families. Meanwhile, mining operations in the province cover 46,758 ha, according to Kiara’s report.
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Fishing activities commonly take place along the southern coastal road, particularly in Baron, Tepus and Girisubo. (JP/Stefanus Ajie)
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and conflicts in coastal areas are expected to increase this year as provinces draft their coastal areas and small island zoning plans without taking into account fisherfolk and people living in those areas, according to environmentalists.
Twelve provinces, including Jakarta and Banten, are still in deliberations, while 22 other provinces have signed their zoning plans and passed them into bylaws.
“There are two factors that will have detrimental effects [on coastal residents] in 2020, zoning plans and omnibus laws, which will cause investment to flood the region at the expense of people’s wellbeing,” People's Coalition for Fisheries Justice’s (Kiara) secretary-general Susan Herawati told The Jakarta Post during the group’s annual report release event on Tuesday.
In its report, Kiara slammed President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo’s maritime policies, which were deemed as having “deserted the people that live in coastal regions.”
“We recorded 41 designated reclamation areas in Indonesia in 2018. Around 60 reclamation areas could lead to conflict [between residents and developers],” Susan said.
The group’s annual report highlighted the coastal plans of several provinces that did not provide fisherfolk with sufficient land, which may put their livelihoods at risk.
In East Kalimantan, for example, coastal areas that are designated for fisherfolk amounted to 25.2 hectares for 137,553 families. Meanwhile, mining operations in the province cover 46,758 ha, according to Kiara’s report.
