Activists say the move will further degrade the country’s vital marine ecosystems.
The regulation was signed by President Joko 'Jokowi' Widodo on May 15 and took effect on the same date. It allows mining permit holders to collect and export sea sand provided domestic needs have been met.
Parid said sand dredging had caused a number of islands in the Thousand Islands regency north of Jakarta and the Riau Islands to disappear below the water, in addition to the 0.8 to 1 metre that was lost to rising seas each year.Sea mining also harmed marine ecosystems and drove fish from the surrounding waters, forcing local fishermen to sail further away, which would be more costly and dangerous, said Parid.
Susi Pudjiastuti, then-Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister, wrote on Twitter that the government should revoke the policy as it would exacerbate the environmental harm of climate change. The project was estimated to require some 80 million cubic metres of sand. According to the APPL, 80 of its members are already in possession of sand extraction licences and are ready to quickly jump back into the business once the government clarifies the details of the policy shift.
Afdillah said this “fast and easy shortcut” to revenue would “violate the rights of ecosystems, coastal societies and fishermen”. A lack of proper supervision from the government would lead to even greater damage to the environment, he added.
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