KKP Says Indonesia's Marine Ecosystem Can Capture 10 Million Tons of Carbon

JAKARTA - The Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) said that Indonesia has a very large carbon market potential in the fisheries sector, with an estimated 10 million tons of CO² equivalent per year.

Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources (Energy and Mineral Resources) Sakti Wahyu Trenggono said that the potential carbon market came from mangroves and mangrove ecosystems.

It is known that the total mangrove area under the authority of the KKP reaches 997,733 hectares (ha) and is projected to be able to absorb carbon up to 6.3 million tons of CO² equivalent per year.

Meanwhile, the area of the mangrove ecosystem reaches 860,156 ha which is projected to be able to absorb carbon up to 3.7 million tons of CO² equivalent per year.

This was conveyed by Trenggono in a Working Meeting with the Minister of Forestry, the Minister of Agriculture and Commission IV of the DPR RI at the Parliament Complex, Senayan, Jakarta, Tuesday, April 14.

"So with the total area of mangroves and seaweeds under the authority of the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, it is approximately 10 million tons of CO² equivalent," said Trenggono.

According to Trenggono, integration in the form of approval of the suitability of marine space utilization activities or KKPRL, carbon unit registry system (SRUK) and strict supervision is needed to maintain the national contribution target in the carbon market.

"The use of marine space is the main distinguishing characteristic between blue carbon and the land sector," he said.

He also ensured that every carbon mitigation action must have a KKPRL as the main prerequisite for the legality of the project location.

"For this reason, the Ministry of Environment and Energy is in synergy with the Ministry of Environment in implementing the SRUK. Every document of the draft climate change action plan is recorded to ensure the sovereignty of Indonesia's blue carbon data and prevent double claims," he explained.

Meanwhile, in order to optimize the potential of marine resources as a climate solution, the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries focuses on three main pillars of the implementation of carbon economic value instruments.

First, the regulatory aspect. Currently, the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources is preparing technical regulations as a follow-up to Presidential Regulation (Perpres) Number 110 of 2025 concerning the Implementation of Carbon Economic Value and Greenhouse Gas Emission Control.

Second, data and information strengthening includes mapping the area of blue carbon ecosystems, determining the baseline of emissions, and calculating accurate CO² absorption potential.

The last or third pipeline project as a real implementation in the field through a blue carbon restoration pilot project and an emission reduction program in the fisheries sector.

"All of these procedures have taken into account the impact of the economic value of carbon that will make a real contribution to the country and coastal communities in an optimal and sustainable manner," he concluded.