The Dark Side of Shrimp Aquaculture: From Land Displacement to Marine Pollution

The Indonesian government is aggressively developing shrimp farming through the Shrimp Estate Project. The project is estimated to require 30,000 to 80,000 hectares of land and a production target of 2 million tons. Several areas—such as East Sumbawa, Karawang, Kebumen, Cirebon and Aceh—are targeted as locations.

The government says the project aligns with the blue economy and can promote sustainable fisheries.

However, the Shrimp Estate has problems, including marine pollution, conservation areas, mangroves, land conversion, Indigenous land use, and food security issues. All pond development is claimed to be for a sustainable economy.