Village head to pay Rp48 billion fine for Tangerang sea fence

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Marine Affairs and Fisheries Minister Sakti Wahyu Trenggono stated that village officials found to be perpetrators of the sea fencing case in Tangerang waters are prepared to pay Rp48 billion (USD2.8 million) of administrative fine.

Based on the results of the investigation and existing evidence, his side determined two individuals as being responsible for constructing the Tangerang sea fence: the village head with the initials A and the village official with the initials T.

"They have admitted and are responsible for the installation of the sea fence and are willing to pay an administrative fine according to applicable regulations," Trenggono remarked during a Hearing Meeting with Commission IV of the Indonesian House of Representatives on Thursday.

However, he did not specify whether the fine applies to each perpetrator separately or collectively to both.

He noted that this case was handled in accordance with the authority based on the Ministerial Regulation of the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries Number 30 of 2021 concerning the Supervision of Marine Space and the Ministerial Regulation of the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries Number 31 of 2021 concerning the Imposition of Administrative Sanctions in the Marine Affairs and Fisheries Sector.

The ministry followed up on the Tangerang sea fence violation by halting the fencing activities and summoning witnesses for information and clarification.

Through the investigation conducted by the ministry's Director General of Marine and Fisheries Resources Supervision (PSDKP), Trenggono said two perpetrators had been proven to have carried out the fencing and had received administrative sanctions.

In the investigation and examination process, the ministry also cooperated with the National Police Criminal Investigation Unit.

"Members of the National Police Criminal Investigation Unit were also involved in the examination process and investigated matters related to the criminal act," he explained.

On January 15, 2025, the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries sealed off the sea fence, whose discovery garnered significant public and governmental attention due to its mysterious nature.

Four days later, the Indonesian Navy commenced removing the sea fence, which stretches across 16 villages in six sub-districts, on President Prabowo Subianto's order.

Head of the Banten Province Marine Affairs and Fisheries Service, Eli Susiyanti, also stated that the sea fence has significantly affected thousands of fishermen and fish farmers.