MARITIMEPOSTS.COM – The Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) has temporarily suspended the operations of the Fish Processing Unit (UPI) of PT ISF in Kaliori District, Rembang Regency, Central Java, on Monday (16/03).
This action was taken as a swift response to public reports regarding suspected pollution caused by the facility.
“Following an inspection by Fisheries Supervisors, the company is strongly indicated to have caused water pollution in Rembang, and we have suspended its operations as of today,” said the Director General of Marine and Fisheries Resources Surveillance (PSDKP), Pung Nugroho Saksono, in Jakarta on Tuesday (17/03).
Ipunk explained that earlier, his office had instructed the Fisheries Supervisors from the PSDKP Cilacap Station to conduct an inspection of PT ISF. Field monitoring results revealed indications of pollution allegedly originating from fish head processing activities for fish meal production.
“The temporary suspension aims to prevent broader impacts on fisheries resources and the marine environment, and to ensure that the company uses wastewater treatment facilities that meet established standards,” he added.
The Ministry will coordinate with the Ministry of Environment to address potential criminal violations related to water pollution if the company fails to follow up on proper waste management. During inspections, officers found indications of improper waste disposal procedures.
Officers discovered an outlet pipe extending into the sea, with surrounding waters appearing murky. Additionally, a foul odor was detected in the fish meal processing area, originating from raw fish head materials, along with wastewater discharge from trucks transporting raw materials.
Furthermore, the Head of the PSDKP Cilacap Station, Dwi Santoso Wibowo, stated that the company was unable to demonstrate adequate waste treatment facilities specifically for fish meal production. Satellite image analysis also identified a pipe located between two ponds, strongly suspected to be one of the sources of pollution into the waters.
Following these field findings, the Fisheries Supervisors of the PSDKP Cilacap Station took firm action by temporarily halting operations in accordance with Article 17 paragraph (2) letter b of the Ministerial Regulation of Marine Affairs and Fisheries No. 4 of 2025, amending Regulation No. 47 of 2020 concerning the Implementation of Fisheries Supervisors’ Duties.
This action aligns with the directive of the Minister of Marine Affairs and Fisheries, Sakti Wahyu Trenggono, who emphasized that every fish processing unit must comply with applicable licensing documents and established environmental standards. The Ministry will not tolerate industrial activities that disregard ecological aspects solely for economic gain.
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Directorate General of PSDKP