Coastal Governance Policies Expected to Consider the Fate of Communities and Small Fishermen
The Faculty of Law at the University of 17 August 1945 Jakarta (UTA ’45 Jakarta) held a community service activity to highlight the protection of small fishermen in the face of maritime investment expansion. The event, titled ‘Legal Politics of Marine Spatial Governance: Protection of Small Fishermen in the Midst of Investment Expansion and Administrative Regulations’, was held in Bandar Kemayoran on Thursday (26/2).
This academic discussion featured Johan Rosihan, a member of Commission IV of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI) and a Master of Law student at UTA ’45 Jakarta, as the main speaker. Also present were legal experts Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tuti Widyaningrum and Prof. Dr. Hj. Siti Nur Azizah, as well as corporate practitioner Revitriyoso Husodo, who serves as a Commissioner at PT Krakatau Bandar Samudera.
Johan Rosihan revealed data indicating that of the approximately 2.2 million fishermen in Indonesia, the majority are small fishermen who belong to vulnerable groups. He stated that although maritime regulations are adequate in principle, their implementation often favors investment interests over the socio-economic protection of fishermen.
“Our laws are good in principle, but the challenge is how to make them work effectively in the field. Pro-investment regulations do increase state revenue, but they do not fully guarantee the rights of small fishermen as the main subjects of marine space,” said Johan, in a statement on Thursday (26/2).
He encouraged legal and political breakthroughs to ensure that coastal governance policies do not marginalize local communities. Johan believes that this forum is important as a bridge between academic theory and legislative practice to produce applicable legal solutions.
As a concrete step, the Faculty of Law at UTA ’45 Jakarta proposed the establishment of a Legal Clinic specifically to assist coastal communities and small fishermen. This program aims to ensure that the campus is not only a center for theory but also provides free legal assistance to vulnerable groups affected by administrative regulations or marine space conflicts.
From a practitioner’s perspective, Revitriyoso Husodo emphasized the importance of synchronizing the needs of the industry and the living space of traditional fishermen. According to him, marine spatial planning must ensure that large vessel zoning does not cut off fishermen’s access to their fishing areas.
“Indonesia’s maritime economic potential is enormous as a source of foreign exchange. However, its management must be fair. Companies have social responsibility (CSR), ranging from mangrove rehabilitation to safety education for fishermen, to prevent conflicts of interest,” explained Revitriyoso.
The Head of the Master of Law Program at UTA ’45 Jakarta, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tuti Widyaningrum, hopes that this discussion will generate concrete ideas that strengthen the role of law as an instrument of social justice. She affirmed that the sea must be managed sustainably by placing the welfare of small communities as the top priority in national legal policy. (E-4)