Jayapura, Jubi – For the Indigenous Marind people of South Papua, ipni is more than just a fish. Their name for barramundi – known locally as swamp barramundi or kakap rawa – has long been associated with the region's rivers, wetlands, and mangrove forests, and remains one of the most sought-after fish in Merauke.

Its rich, tender flesh has made it a favorite among locals and visitors alike. Many describe its skin as having a uniquely chewy texture.

Barramundi is also a valuable catch for local fishermen, who often venture far into the Arafura Sea – and, in some cases, across the maritime border into Papua New Guinea (PNG) – to find it.

The Marind call it kakap rawa, or swamp barramundi, because it inhabits brackish swamps, large rivers, and mangrove ecosystems across South Papua. Scientifically, however, the species is known as barramundi (Lates calcarifer), a fish capable of living in saltwater, brackish water, and freshwater.

Adult barramundi spawn in the sea before migrating upstream through river estuaries into swamps and inland wetlands, making healthy wetland ecosystems essential to their life cycle.

Environmental observers warn that large-scale land conversion across South Papua is disrupting that ecological balance.

The transformation of native bushland, sago groves, wetlands, and savanna into vast agricultural estates threatens not only forests but also the food chains that sustain wildlife.

Although the government points to Wasur National Park – Papua's largest wetland conservation area – as evidence that protected ecosystems remain, questions have been raised over whether the park alone can withstand the cumulative impacts of large-scale land conversion and increasingly severe climate events, including the 2026 El Nino.

"The high concentration of fire hotspots within the Food Estate area is a significant finding," said Uli Arta Siagian, National Executive Campaign Coordinator of the Indonesian Forum for the Environment (WALHI).

"It indicates that an area designated as a national food production hub has already been experiencing ecological pressure since the early stages of development."

According to Siagian, recurring fires in the region should not be viewed solely as natural disasters but as a consequence of widespread landscape transformation.

She said deforestation, land clearing, road construction, and the drainage of swamps and wetlands have increased the vulnerability of the landscape to wildfires.

For decades, South Papua has been dominated by lowland forests, peatlands, swamps, and other wetland ecosystems that naturally retain moisture.

"When these landscapes are converted into large-scale production areas, their ecological characteristics change, making them far more susceptible to fires during the dry season," she said.

Fishermen increasingly cross into PNG

The degradation of South Papua's wetlands has also raised concerns that barramundi populations are shifting toward healthier habitats across the border in PNG's Trans-Fly region.

Local fishermen say this helps explain why Indonesian boats are increasingly caught fishing illegally in PNG waters.

A fisherman from Bulukumba, South Sulawesi, who now operates from Lampu Satu Beach in Merauke, admitted that crews frequently cross into PNG while targeting barramundi, particularly for its highly valued swim bladder.

"Yes, fishermen from Merauke often fish as far as PNG," he told Jubi.

The Trans-Fly region, which consists of vast wetlands and savannas, remains one of the best-preserved ecosystems in the Asia-Pacific.

Much of the sparsely populated area is protected, with roughly one-third designated as conservation land, including the Tonda Wildlife Management Area, a wetland recognized under the Ramsar Convention.

Healthy ecosystems there continue to support abundant fish stocks, including barramundi.

Indonesian fishermen have repeatedly been arrested – and in some cases fatally shot – by PNG authorities while fishing illegally in search of barramundi.

Most recently, on July 14, three fishing boats from Merauke reportedly encountered trouble in PNG waters. One vessel sank, while two others remained missing.

The fate of approximately 18 crew members aboard the three boats was initially unknown.

The captain of KM Raditi Jaya, Basri, reportedly survived after being rescued by PNG fishermen.

A fisherman in Merauke said rough seas, with waves reaching two to three meters, contributed to the incident.

Merauke Border Management Agency head Rekianus Samkakai said illegal crossings by local fishermen have become an annual occurrence.

Since 2024, 132 fishermen from Merauke have been detained at Bomana Correctional Institution near Port Moresby, according to records through March 2026.

In February alone, four Indonesian fishing boats were apprehended – two by PNG authorities and two by Australian authorities.

Data from Destructive Fishing Watch (DFW) Indonesia shows that PNG authorities arrested Indonesian fishing vessels on six separate occasions between May 2020 and November 2021.

According to DFW, illegal cross-border fishing persists because fish stocks remain abundant in PNG waters and productive fishing grounds lie only four to seven nautical miles from shore – close enough for Indonesian fishermen to reach despite crossing an international maritime boundary.

Target species include barramundi, Chinese seaperch, and kuro fish.

DFW says fish populations remain healthy because the region's ecosystems remain largely intact, allowing barramundi to complete their natural life cycle – from spawning near mangrove forests to growing in river estuaries, swamps, and savannas.

For many Indonesian fishermen, the wetlands of PNG's Trans-Fly region and Australia's Torres Strait Islands have become increasingly attractive fishing grounds because their mangrove forests and swamp ecosystems remain well preserved.

While no comprehensive scientific study has yet confirmed that barramundi are migrating out of South Papua, the increasing number of Indonesian fishermen crossing into PNG waters suggests the ecological health of Merauke's wetlands is under growing pressure.

As local fish stocks continue to decline, many fishermen are risking arrest – and even their lives – by crossing international borders in search of dwindling catches.

Source: https://en.jubi.id/degraded-swamp-forests-sago-groves-drive-barramundi-across-the-border