Annisa Febiola, Jakarta – The Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) reports that the fish population around the island of Java is dwindling due to a high amount of waste damaging the marine ecosystem. The Director General of Marine Management at the KKP, A. Koswara, stated that waste is currently one of the biggest threats to marine health.

"In terms of fish productivity, our catch is already quite difficult. If you look at the map, very few people are fishing in the Java Sea," Koswara said during a media gathering at the Aryaduta Hotel in Jakarta on Friday, August 1, 2025.

According to fishing vessel monitoring data, fishing activities are now concentrated in the eastern, western, and southern regions of Indonesia, particularly in Maluku, Papua, and Anambas. In contrast, very few fishing vessels are operating in the Java Sea.

"This indicates that there are only a few fish left in the Java Sea because the sea is no longer healthy for spawning. The mangroves have disappeared, and the coral reefs have been damaged, partly due to waste," he explained.

To restore the marine ecosystem, the KKP is focusing on two main efforts: reducing marine debris and improving coastal ecosystems by planting mangroves.

"We are launching a Mangrove Development Center, where we will cultivate all the mangrove seedlings in Indonesia," he said.

With these two initiatives, the KKP hopes to improve the health of the marine ecosystem and, as a result, increase fish production.

Source: https://en.tempo.co/read/2035013/fish-population-declining-in-java-due-to-ocean-pollution-says-kk