Reclamation Project in Cilincing Waters, North Jakarta, Causes Drastic Drop in Fishermen's Income
The vast expanse of blue sea in the Cilincing waters, North Jakarta, which was once wide and free, has now changed its face. Lines of concrete and piles of red soil are fragmenting the horizon, dividing the sea that has long been the living space for fishermen. This sudden change is not only altering the coastal landscape but also gradually eroding the hopes of those who depend on the sea for their livelihood.
The sea route serving as the gateway for fishermen entering and exiting in Cilincing-Marunda is now squeezed between two grand development projects. The first project, the New Priok Eastern Access (NPEA), is a National Strategic Project (PSN) in the form of a sea toll road initiated by PT Pelabuhan Indonesia (Pelindo). These two grand projects are clearly visible across from the Cilincing Fish Auction Site (TPI), North Jakarta, right at the fishermen’s entry and exit gate.
Although there are two ongoing projects, fishermen admit they are more shocked by the reclamation. “Well, to some extent, it’s surprising. I was thinking how the fishermen would enter and exit if the route narrows like that. Because that fill isn’t directly guarded. If it erodes, there will be shallowing, which will make it difficult for fishermen to enter and exit,” said fisherman Edi when interviewed by Kompas.com in the Marunda area, North Jakarta, on Friday (17/4/2026).
Edi admitted to having seen filling activities across from the TPI Cilincing for the past two to three months. However, in the last two weeks, the construction progress has been very rapid, so the reclamation now protrudes towards the TPI Cilincing, shocking many fishermen. Edi admitted that actually both the NPEA construction and the reclamation are disrupting the activities of coastal fishermen in North Jakarta. Meanwhile, the new reclamation across from the TPI Cilincing is said to have had no socialisation. The last time fishermen were invited by PT KCN was for socialisation about the viral sea concrete, not regarding the reclamation across from the TPI Cilincing.
“As far as I know, there has been no socialisation so far. The current dredging has not been socialised with local RT and RW officials or with the fishermen’s community, even though with the residents living there,” explained Edi.
The narrow sea route is considered to bring dangerous impacts to fishermen, especially during the rainy season, strong winds, and big waves. Ideally, the sea route or the entry and exit point for boats should be wide. Because if it’s not wide, during the west monsoon season, boats will easily be tossed about, and if there is construction around it, it will be very dangerous.
On the other hand, the reclamation is considered to make the surrounding waters very shallow, thus dangerous for fishermen. This shallow sea condition has already caused two fishermen’s boats to run aground or be damaged. “Once, during last month’s rain and wind, big waves in the west monsoon season, two fishermen’s boats ran aground into the KCN area. I coordinated with the KCN officials, they helped. One was pulled to the Marunda River, the other to the Cilincing anchorage pool,” said Edi.
Fortunately, there were no casualties in that incident, but one of the fishermen’s boats could not be saved and sank. The Chairman of the Kalibaru Cilincing Marunda (KCM) Fishermen Association, Kubil (60), also admitted to being more disturbed by the reclamation.