When the Sea Becomes an Extraction Zone: Mining, Sedimentation, and the Future of Coastal Fishers in Indonesia
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.65815/0sycg504Keywords:
marine extraction, coastal justice, sedimentation, traditional fishers, marine political ecologyAbstract
Indonesia’s coastal and marine spaces are increasingly subject to competing demands for extraction, infrastructure, conservation, transportation, fisheries, and industrial development. The expansion of marine mining and sand extraction raises fundamental questions about who has the authority to determine the use of coastal space and who bears the ecological consequences. This article examines conflicts surrounding marine extraction, with particular attention to sedimentation, coastal ecosystem degradation, fishing grounds, and the rights of traditional fishers. It argues that the transformation of marine space into an extraction zone can undermine livelihoods that depend on relatively stable coastal ecosystems while concentrating economic benefits among industrial and commercial actors. Sedimentation and habitat alteration may affect fisheries, mangroves, seagrass, and coral-associated ecosystems, creating cumulative impacts that are difficult to capture through conventional project-based environmental assessments. Drawing on marine political ecology and environmental-justice perspectives, the article investigates the distribution of benefits, risks, and decision-making power in coastal development. It emphasizes that traditional fishers should not be treated merely as stakeholders to be consulted after development decisions have been made. Their livelihoods and territorial relationships with the sea require substantive recognition within marine spatial planning. The article concludes that sustainable coastal governance must prioritize ecological integrity, livelihood security, participatory decision-making, and equitable access to marine resources.
Downloads
References
Adi, Wahyu, Agus Hartoko, Pujiono W. Purnomo, Okto Supratman, Delianis Pringgenies, and Udhi E. Hernawan. 2024. “Ecological Condition of Seagrass Meadows around Sea-Based Tin Mining Activities in the Waters of Bangka Belitung Islands, Indonesia.” Marine Pollution Bulletin 209 (Part A): 117151. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2024.117151.
Bennett, Nathan James, Hugh Govan, and Terre Satterfield. 2015. “Ocean Grabbing.” Marine Policy 57: 61–68. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpol.2015.03.026.
Baum, Gunilla, Ima Kusumanti, Annette Breckwoldt, Sebastian C. A. Ferse, Marion Glaser, Dwiyitno, Luky Adrianto, Simon van der Wulp, and Andreas Kunzmann. 2016. “Under Pressure: Investigating Marine Resource-Based Livelihoods in Jakarta Bay and the Thousand Islands.” Marine Pollution Bulletin 110 (2): 778–789. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2016.05.032.
Talib, Naimah Lutfi, Ariane Juliana Utomo, Jon Barnett, and Dedi Supriadi Adhuri. 2022. “Three Centuries of Marine Governance in Indonesia: Path Dependence Impedes Sustainability.” Marine Policy 143: 105171. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpol.2022.105171.
Gustavsson, Madeleine, Katia Frangoudes, Lars Lindström, María Catalina Álvarez Burgos, and others. 2021. “Gender and Blue Justice in Small-Scale Fisheries Governance.” Marine Policy 133: 104743. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpol.2021.104743.
Male, Yusthinus Tobias, Amanda Reichelt-Brushett, Edward D. Burton, and Alberth Nanlohy. 2024. “Assessment of Mercury Distribution and Bioavailability from Informal Coastal Cinnabar Mining—Risk to the Marine Environment.” Marine Pollution Bulletin 199: 116047. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2024.116047.
Rosyida, Isma, Wahidullah Khan, and Masatoshi Sasaoka. 2018. “Marginalization of a Coastal Resource-Dependent Community: A Study on Tin Mining in Indonesia.” The Extractive Industries and Society 5 (1): 165–176. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.exis.2017.11.002.
Rosyida, Isma, Masatoshi Sasaoka, and Shigeru Saito. 2018. “Local Political Dynamics of Coastal and Marine Resource Governance: A Case Study of Tin-Mining at a Coastal Community in Indonesia.” Environmental Development 26: 12–22. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envdev.2018.03.003.
Rosyida, Isma, Wahid Ullah, Alfian Helmi, and Masatoshi Sasaoka. 2019. “Adapting Livelihoods to the Impacts of Tin Mining in Indonesia: Options and Constraints.” The Extractive Industries and Society 6 (4): 1302–1313. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.exis.2019.10.018.
Stacey, Natasha, Emily Gibson, Neil R. Loneragan, Carol Warren, Budy Wiryawan, Dedi S. Adhuri, Dirk J. Steenbergen, and Ria Fitriana. 2021. “Developing Sustainable Small-Scale Fisheries Livelihoods in Indonesia: Trends, Enabling and Constraining Factors, and Future Opportunities.” Marine Policy 132: 104654. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpol.2021.104654.
Talib, Naimah Lutfi, Ariane Juliana Utomo, Jon Barnett, and Dedi Supriadi Adhuri. 2022. “Three Centuries of Marine Governance in Indonesia: Path Dependence Impedes Sustainability.” Marine Policy 143: 105171. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpol.2022.105171.
Wen, Wen, Krishna Samudera, Luky Adrianto, Gabrielle L. Johnson, Mary Sue Brancato, and Alan White. 2022. “Towards Marine Spatial Planning Implementation in Indonesia: Progress and Hindering Factors.” Coastal Management 50 (6): 469–489. https://doi.org/10.1080/08920753.2022.2126262.
Indonesian Legal Sources
Indonesia. The 1945 Constitution of the Republic of Indonesia, especially Article 33(3).
Indonesia. 2007. Law No. 27 of 2007 concerning the Management of Coastal Areas and Small Islands (Undang-Undang Nomor 27 Tahun 2007 tentang Pengelolaan Wilayah Pesisir dan Pulau-Pulau Kecil). Jakarta: Government of the Republic of Indonesia. The law is listed in the official Indonesian regulatory database.
Indonesia. 2014. Law No. 1 of 2014 concerning the Amendment to Law No. 27 of 2007 concerning the Management of Coastal Areas and Small Islands (Undang-Undang Nomor 1 Tahun 2014). Jakarta: Government of the Republic of Indonesia.
Indonesia. 2016. Law No. 7 of 2016 concerning the Protection and Empowerment of Fishers, Fish Farmers, and Salt Farmers (Undang-Undang Nomor 7 Tahun 2016 tentang Perlindungan dan Pemberdayaan Nelayan, Pembudi Daya Ikan, dan Petambak Garam).
Indonesia. 2009. Law No. 32 of 2009 concerning Environmental Protection and Management (Undang-Undang Nomor 32 Tahun 2009 tentang Perlindungan dan Pengelolaan Lingkungan Hidup). Jakarta: Government of the Republic of Indonesia. The law is recorded in the official regulatory database and remains an important statutory basis for environmental protection, subject to subsequent amendments.
Indonesia. 2023. Law No. 6 of 2023 concerning the Stipulation of Government Regulation in Lieu of Law No. 2 of 2022 concerning Job Creation into Law. Jakarta: Government of the Republic of Indonesia.
Constitutional Court of the Republic of Indonesia. 2011. Decision No. 3/PUU-VIII/2010, June 16, 2011. Judicial Review of Law No. 27 of 2007 concerning the Management of Coastal Areas and Small Islands. The decision invalidated provisions concerning HP-3 (Coastal Water Cultivation Rights) and is directly relevant to the constitutional relationship between state control, private utilization, and coastal communities.
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Andi Muhammad Hanafi (Author)
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
All writings published in this journal are the personal views of the authors and do not represent the views of this journal or the authors’ affiliated institutions. Authors retain copyrights without any restriction under the license of Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0).
