The KKP Office in Jembrana district, Bali province, is also helping in making the imaging of the conditions before and after the incident.
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) Ministry has said that it is ready to work with the West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) provincial government to investigate the cause of water pollution in Bima Bay.

"The accident clearly harms the marine ecosystem," KKP Minister Sakti Wahyu Trenggono said in an official statement received here on Thursday.

According to data provided by the technical implementing unit (UPT) of the ministry in Denpasar city, Bali province, the pollution was first monitored at Lawata Beach, Bima city, NTB Province, on April 27, 2022.

The sea was covered by a brown gel-like material, which did not mix well with the water. However, it did not smell like oil.

In the area, a number of fish were found intoxicated, while some were found dead.

Hence, samples of the seawater from the surface and underneath as well as fish carcasses have been sent for testing to the laboratory at the Bima District Environmental Office.

"Our team continues to collect the data. The KKP Office in Jembrana District, Bali Province, is also helping in making the imaging of the conditions before and after the incident," the minister noted.

He emphasized that there will be no more pollution if all parties pay attention to the importance of marine health resources.

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The ministry is fully committed to maintaining marine health by prioritizing ecosystem sustainability while making policies and work programs, he said.

Recently, the ministry also dealt with water pollution in Muara Baru area, North Jakarta, which was caused by a fish processing unit (UPI). In response, the unit was temporarily closed.

Director general of marine and fishery resources supervision at the ministry, Rear Admiral Adin Nurwaluddin, said that according to the investigation, the processing unit had violated the Marine Affairs and Fisheries Minister’s Regulation Number 10 of 2021 regarding the obligation to have a wastewater treatment plant (IPAL).

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Translator: Razi Rahman, Uyu Liman
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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