KKP Halts Illegal Reclamation in Morowali: Three Companies Without Permits
JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - The Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) has temporarily halted reclamation activities along the Morowali coast in Central Sulawesi (Sulteng).
Director General for Surveillance of Marine Resources and Fisheries (PSDKP), Pung Nugroho Saksono (Ipunk), said three companies undertaking the reclamation did not possess the required documents.
The documents in question are the Approval for Suitability of Activities for Utilising Sea Space (PKKPRL) for reclamation activities and the construction of jetties (concrete extending into the sea).
According to him, this firm action represents the state’s presence in enforcing rules and preventing damage to the ecological resources of fish stocks caused by illegal activities.
‘The utilisation of sea space, including the resources within it, must be oriented towards ecology, so that its conservation is safeguarded,’ Ipunk said.
In the same statement, Director for Surveillance of Marine Resources Sumono Darwinto said the three illegal reclamation companies were PT WXT with reclamation covering 7.714 hectares, PT BI with reclamation covering 1.336 hectares, and PT BTIIG with the reclaimed sea space covering 2.799 hectares.
The halt involved the Special Police (Polsus) for Coastal Area and Small Islands Management (PWP3K).
Illegal reclamation along Morowali’s coast is considered to contravene Law Number 6 of 2023 on the Determination of a Government Regulation in lieu of Law Number 2 of 2022 on Job Creation, which became law together with Government Regulation Number 21 of 2021 on the Implementation of Spatial Planning.
Head of Bitung PSDKP Base, Kurniawan, said the perpetrators will face administrative sanctions as set out in the Minister of Marine Affairs and Fisheries Regulation Number 31 of 2021 on Imposition of Administrative Sanctions in the Marine and Fisheries Sector.
Furthermore, Minister of Marine Affairs and Fisheries Sakti Wahyu Trenggono has established five blue economy policies. One of them relates to supervising activities at sea.