Jakarta (ANTARA) – The National Agrarian Reform Agency (BRAN) stated that land certainty, fishermen’s protection, the business sustainability of fishpond farmers, and the rights of long-time coastal residents must be part of the development of Java’s northern coast.
“We must prepare coastal area development comprehensively. Don’t let infrastructure development instead cause land problems or new conflicts among the public,” BRAN Head Dedi Prasetyo said in a statement here on Tuesday.
Prasetyo made the statement during a meeting with Deputy Maritime and Fisheries Minister Didit Herdiawan, who said he was committed to strengthening synergy in asset management, agrarian conflict prevention, and the synchronization of coastal development.
According to Prasetyo, one of the strategic agendas discussed was the planned construction of a Giant Sea Wall stretching approximately 575 kilometers along Java’s northern coast.
The program covers five provinces, 20 districts, five cities, and 128 sub-districts. It involves the construction of coastal embankments, sea embankments, and mangrove breakwaters, divided into two work areas and 15 segments.
The construction aims to address serious coastal problems, ranging from land subsidence, coastal flooding, and the impacts of climate change to threats to settlements and people’s economic activities.
However, large-scale development also brings its own challenges. Land arrangements, changes in road access, the use of coastal areas, and fishermen’s activities must be properly prepared to prevent new problems in society, he said.
Prasetyo stressed that development along the northern coast must go hand in hand with legal certainty over land and protection for affected communities.
“Therefore, BRAN will strengthen coordination with the Maritime and Fisheries Ministry and the North Java Coast Management Authority (BOPPJ) so every potential conflict can be identified and handled early,” he said.
Prasetyo noted that BRAN was ready to contribute to asset management, mapping land issues, and coordinating the resolution of agrarian conflicts in coastal areas, including ensuring the status and legal certainty of land in reclaimed areas and planned artificial islands.
He also emphasized the importance of protecting fishermen’s activities and livelihoods. Development that changes road access, community activity routes, or fishing areas needs to be accompanied by public outreach and social mitigation measures.
In addition to the Giant Sea Wall, attention was also given to the 2025–2028 North Java Coast Fishpond Revitalization Program. The first phase in West Java covers approximately 14,090 hectares, with several land-related and implementation issues in Indramayu and Karawang districts requiring coordination among government agencies.
The revitalization is considered important for fishpond farmers and the coastal economy. Land arrangement and resolution of land issues are expected to support fishpond business sustainability and improve area productivity.
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Translator: Khaerul, Kenzu
Editor: Primayanti
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