TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Residents of the coastal area in Batam, Indonesia, have been voicing their concerns about the alleged illegal activities of filling mangroves and coastal areas, which have been rampant recently. They claim that their income has drastically decreased, and the coastal environment has suffered severe damage.
Complaints have come from the Setenger Village community, Tanjung Piayu, Batam. Filling in the mangrove area has caused the blockage of two river channels, leading to decreased income for the fishermen.
Salma, one of the fishermen from the Setenger Village, stated that their catches have declined due to the murky water, shallow fish traps, and damage to the habitat of fish, crabs, and shrimp. "It's difficult to catch fish now because the water is murky, and our traps are empty," she said in late November 2025.
Another fisherman, Jaelani, mentioned that their catches now only suffice for daily meals. Typically, they could sell some of their catches for profit.
Putra, a young resident of the Setenger Village, added that river filling has worsened the siltation and damaged the livelihoods of the residents. "The community here is greatly affected. Many fish traps can no longer be used because the river has been filled. With just two or three days of rain, the water turns into mud, and the fish disappear. About 12 fish traps are directly affected," he stated.
Coastal damage is not only limited to mangrove forests and rivers. According to the residents, filling activities have also damaged seagrass beds and coral reefs. Yadi, the Chairman of the Mangrove Association Rumpun Bakau Indah, stated that the filled area was a mangrove planting site by the Peat and Mangrove Restoration Agency (BRGM) in 2022.
Currently, the area is disturbed due to the sedimentation from the filling. "Mud flows into the sea and damages the planting area. We are only requesting for the filled mangrove to be restored and rehabilitated," emphasized Yadi.
Coastal filling also occurred in the Tanjung Tritip area, Tanjung Uma Village, Batam. Some fishermen in the area declined to comment, stating that their income had dropped since the reclamation took place.
The fishermen mentioned that the reclamation parties had initially provided compensation of IDR 2 million per family. The amount is not commensurate with the damage that occurred, but they accepted it because the project continued despite objections.
In Bengkong coastal area, Batam, fishermen claimed to be tired of reporting coastal filling activities that threaten mangroves, coral reefs, and other ecosystems. They affirmed that they do not oppose development in Batam but request that all activities comply with regulations.
"In the past, we could earn IDR 100,000 within two hours at sea, now it's difficult to even reach that amount in a full day. Just the fuel costs us over IDR 70,000 for a single trip," complained Rompen, a 38-year-old traditional fisherman.
Over the past three years, the situation has worsened for the fishermen. Those using small boats and unable to go far had to search for fish in the now murky and polluted coast. The chances of catching fish have become smaller. "The water is already brown, and the fish don't come near the shore. Our boats cannot handle going further," said Ipen, a 45-year-old fisherman.
Reporting to the Ministry of Environment
The cases of reclamation filling on the coast have long been the focus of environmental organizations in Batam, such as the Indonesian Root Foundation (ABI). ABI routinely reports the occurring damages to the Ministry of Environment, but the cases continue to persist.
The founder of the Indonesian Root Foundation, Hendrik Hermawan, stated that the reports were not only sent to the Ministry of Environment, but also to the Batam Development Agency (BP) through the Asset and Area Security Directorate (Ditpam). "These reports are pressing for a comprehensive and transparent legal process, licensing verification, and environmental audits," Hendrik emphasized in his written statement.
He urged the government to conduct a thorough environmental governance audit. In fact, there have been many changes from sea to land that should not be left unattended. "Development should not be carried out sporadically and recklessly. The current damage not only affects the local economy but also threatens the future of Batam's coastal ecosystem," he added.
Meanwhile, the Head of the Ombudsman Representative of the Republic of Indonesia for the Riau Islands Province, Lagat Siadari, urged the Batam Development Agency as the area owner and authority to conduct strict supervision, especially after the issuance of Government Regulation No. 25 and 28. "Therefore, it is a great responsibility for BP Batam to oversee this," stated Lagat.
The Head of BP Batam, Amsakar Achmad, stated that they have received reports of alleged filling or reclamation that damaged the sea. Amsakar promised to deploy officials to inspect the company's permits. Until now, Tempo is still making efforts to confirm with the companies involved in the filling.
Read: Batam Ports Flooded with 822 Containers of Illegal E-Waste
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