Don't Get Wrong, This Is the Importance of Shrimp Pond AMDAL!

Maybe not many farmers are familiar with the EIA for shrimp ponds. In fact, it is necessary to have an AMDAL permit for shrimp ponds, whether it is a pond for freshwater, brackish or marine shrimp cultivation. Check out the full explanation here!

What is EIA?

AMDAL or Environmental Impact Analysis is a study of the impact of a planned business and/or activity on the environment. AMDAL is very necessary as a decision-making process regarding the implementation of business/activities, whether the planned activities/businesses are environmentally feasible or not.

In Article 33 paragraph (4) of the 1945 Constitution of the Republic of Indonesia "... The use of natural resources should be based on three pillars of sustainable development, namely economically viable (economically profitable), socially acceptable (socially acceptable), and environmental sound (environmentally friendly)…".

Based on this explanation, the existence of an AMDAL for your shrimp cultivation is important because the AMDAL can show whether your shrimp farming plan has fulfilled the three pillars of sustainable development.

The Importance of EIA in Shrimp Cultivation

Shrimp cultivation is a business whose processes and activities can affect the surrounding environment. The shrimp farming process produces waste from leftover feed and shrimp excrement which can pollute the environment, cause bad smells, and become toxic to other biota if not treated properly. Therefore, an AMDAL is needed to protect shrimp farming and minimize adverse impacts on society and the environment.

EIA Preparation Requirements for Shrimp Cultivation

The following are the criteria for making an EIA for shrimp farming:

1. Individuals who cultivate shrimp with an area of less than 10 ha must register their business with the local Regency/City Office.
2. Every company that conducts cultivation business with an area of 50 ha or more is required to apply the Community Core Pond (TIR) pattern in accordance with the provisions of the applicable laws and regulations.
3. Shrimp cultivation businesses with an area of 50 ha or more are required to carry out an Environmental Impact Analysis (AMDAL) study in accordance with the provisions of the applicable laws and regulations.

So, those of you who are planning to build a shrimp pond with an area of 50 ha or more are required to have an AMDAL. However, if the area is less than 10 ha, you are only required to register your business with the local office. 

Contents of the EIA document

The preparation of the AMDAL document refers to the Regulation of the State Minister for the Environment Number 16 of 2012 concerning Guidelines for Preparing Environmental Documents. Following are the details of the AMDAL documents:

1. KA-ANDAL Document (Terms of Reference for Environmental Impact Analysis)
2. ANDAL Document (Analysis of Environmental Impacts)
3. RKL Document (Environmental Management Plan)
4. RPL Document (Environmental Monitoring Plan)

EIA Permit Obtaining Procedure

You can get an AMDAL permit after going through several procedures. The procedure for obtaining an AMDAL permit is as follows:

1. Screening Process

This stage is needed to find out whether the development plan or activity requires an AMDAL or not.

2. EIA Study

The AMDAL study is a pre-field study as well as a literature study related to the typology of the activity/business plan and the typology of the environment or where the activity/business is carried out. The pre-field study stage must produce KA-ANDAL (Terms of Reference for Environmental Impact Analysis).

3. Assessment

At this stage, KA-ANDAL will be assessed by the AMDAL assessment commission and stakeholders (stakeholders). If approved, the KA-ANDAL is determined as a frame of reference for conducting an Environmental Impact Analysis (ANDAL) study.

4. Preparation of RKL and RPL

Once the ANDAL has been approved, the next stage is the preparation of an Environmental Management Plan (RKL) and an Environmental Monitoring Plan (RPL).

5. The ANDAL study

During the process of preparing the RKL and RPL documents, the following activities will also be carried out:

• Identify potential impacts
• Evaluation of potential impact
• Determination of significant impact hypothetical
• Testing and analysis of environmental typology data that will be affected
• Improving alternative activity/business plans to minimize environmental impacts that will occur

6. Scoping Process

This process is an identification of potential environmental impacts resulting from the influence of a planned development activity/business. This stage consists of:

• Identify potential impacts
• Evaluation of potential impact
• Concentration of large and important impacts (focusing)

7. Basis and Process for Determining the Scope of the AMDAL Study Area

This is intended to limit the size of the ANDAL study area that is included in the AMDAL document. The scope of the ANDAL study area consists of four boundaries, namely, project, ecological, social, and administrative boundaries.

8. Approval of Environmental Feasibility

Decisions on the environmental feasibility of an activity or business plan are issued by:

• Minister, if the document is assessed by the central appraisal commission,
• Governor, if the document is assessed by the provincial appraisal commission, and
• Mayor/Regent, if the document is assessed by the city/regency appraisal commission.

EIA Consultation for Shrimp Ponds and Shrimp Farming at eFarm!