Bali, Indonesia Sentinel — A group of fishermen in the coastal area of Serangan Island, Denpasar, Bali, have voiced their frustration over difficulties accessing the fishing ground due to the installation of floating barriers. The presence of these barriers has sparked controversy on social media since Thursday, January 30.
The Deputy Chairman of the Forum Krama Bendega, a local fishermen’s association, stated that the floating barriers were installed in 2018 by the management of the Kura-Kura Bali Special Economic Zone (SEZ). According to the fishermen, these restrictions have hindered their ability to fish, preventing them from crossing certain areas around Serangan Island or approaching the SEZ.
“There are about 100 affected fishermen. All of them are connected to the development of the Kura-Kura SEZ,” the deputy chairman said after a meeting with the management of Kura-Kura Bali SEZ on Thursday January 30, as reported by Kumparan.
The fishermen claim that the barriers have forced them to travel farther to reach the fishing ground, increasing their operational costs. They are demanding that the Kura-Kura SEZ management remove the floating barriers and restore access to what they consider public waters.
DPR Response
The fishermen’s voices have reached members of Indonesia’s House of Representatives (DPR) and the Regional Representative Council (DPD), who visited Serangan Island on Thursday, to hear the complaints firsthand.
DPR member I Nyoman Adi Wiryatama expressed concern over the issue. “Today, we are listening to the aspirations of the Serangan community. They have voiced their objections because they are unable to cross these waters to go fishing,” Adi said.
Lawmakers also criticized PT Bali Turtle Island Development, the company managing the Kura-Kura Bali SEZ, for allegedly fencing off the sea with floating white buoys. “We are monitoring the situation, and we will ensure that these barriers are removed,” Adi stated.
Another DPR member from Bali, I Nyoman Parta, emphasized that any restrictions preventing fishermen from accessing the sea must be lifted. “Anything that hinders fishermen from reaching the sea must be removed. The sea is a public space and should remain accessible at all times,” he asserted.
He also stressed that the visit to Serangan Island was aimed at finding a solution to prevent local fishermen from being isolated and deprived of their livelihood. “We are here to find a solution so that they are not treated this way. This is a simple issue, but if we don’t address it, it could escalate into a bigger problem,” Parta added.
Kura-Kura SEZ Management’s Response
Tantowi Yahya, Commissioner of PT Bali Turtle Island Development (BTID), refuted accusations that his company was restricting fishermen’s access with the sea floating barriers. He clarified that while access is indeed limited around the Kura-Kura Bali SEZ, it is meant to facilitate security and surveillance.
“We do provide access for fishermen, but it is limited to those from Serangan Village. Our perspective is that this area should primarily benefit the local community, many of whom are fishermen,” Tantowi stated, as reported by CNN Indonesia.
He emphasized that the barriers were installed strictly for security reasons. He cited past incidents where illegal fuel storage was discovered near the SEZ, prompting management to take precautionary measures.
“From our perspective as investors, these barriers are for security. We previously encountered a situation where illegal fuel was being stockpiled in the lagoon because it was a hidden area,” he explained.
He added that security personnel at the Kura-Kura Bali SEZ cannot monitor the lagoon waters 24/7. He expressed concerns that more serious incidents, such as drug trafficking or the circulation of illegal goods, could occur in the area.
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Tantowi added that the issue of the floating barriers would be discussed in an upcoming management meeting. “If this is deemed burdensome, we will review it in our management meeting as soon as possible,” he stated.
He acknowledged that public access to the Kura-Kura Bali SEZ is currently restricted, citing safety concerns and ongoing construction. However, he assured that the area would be open to the public once development is complete.
(Raidi/Agung)
