The West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) Provincial Government has sent a joint\nteam from the Environment and Forestry Service (DLHK) and the Marine and\nFisheries Service to investigate suspected marine pollution caused by\nshrimp farm activities in North Lombok Regency.<\/p>\n
NTB Provincial Government Spokesperson Ahsanul Khalik said the\ninspection was a follow-up to Governor Iqbal\u2019s directive regarding\npublic complaints about the condition of the waters in the Sambik Elen\narea.<\/p>\n
\u201cPublic complaints are information that we must listen to and verify.\nThe results of the inspection will form the basis for the government to\ndetermine whether there is a problem, what the cause is, and what steps\nmust be taken,\u201d he said in Mataram on Monday.<\/p>\n
Ahsanul said the joint team would immediately conduct field\nverification together with the village government and regional agencies\nto ascertain the facts regarding the suspected marine pollution on 18\nAugust 2026.<\/p>\n
The NTB government is focusing the inspection on four main areas:\nconfirming the source of the discharge complained about by the public,\nand verifying its compliance with permits and spatial utilisation\nprovisions.<\/p>\n
Ahsanul stressed that the government would not draw conclusions\nbefore the verification results were obtained. However, if violations\nare found, the government will immediately take firm and measured action\nin accordance with its authority and the provisions of laws and\nregulations.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf violations are found, there must of course be action in\naccordance with the rules. If no violations are found, the inspection\nresults must also be conveyed objectively to the public,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Ahsanul added that economic and investment activities, including\nshrimp farming, remain important for regional growth, but their\nimplementation must comply with environmental regulations and take into\naccount the interests of the community.<\/p>\n
The NTB Provincial Government is using the verification results from\nthe DLHK and Marine and Fisheries Service (DKP) teams as the basis for\ndetermining measures to address the suspected marine pollution in North\nLombok.<\/p>\n
On 14 August 2026, a video went viral on Instagram showing foamy\nseawater caused by shrimp farm waste discharge in Sambik Elen Hamlet,\nBayan District, North Lombok Regency.<\/p>\n
The Indonesian Traditional Fishermen\u2019s Union (KNTI) said farms in\nBayan and Kayangan Districts frequently discharge farm waste openly and\ndirectly into the sea without proper piping channels.<\/p>\n
Wahana Lingkungan Hidup (Walhi) NTB noted that of the 193 shrimp\nfarms operating in West Nusa Tenggara, only 10 farms have wastewater\ntreatment installations.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/ntb-provincial-government-dispatches-team-to-investigate-alleged-shrimp-farm-pollution-in-north-lombok-1786971291", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }