It is a widely known fact that Indonesia is the largest archipelagic country in the world, with an estimated 13,466 islands which are spread out across approximately 54,716 km of coastline.[1] However, the country has been experiencing rapid economic and population growth in recent decades, and this has resulted in population density becoming a serious issue. Consequently, there is much demand for land in various Indonesian locations, which is needed for housing and transportation, as well as to meet various commercial and industrial needs.
 
One solution which can be employed in order to meet this high demand involves the creation of land from the sea through the initiation of land-reclamation projects. In Indonesia, reclamation work has been carried out since the 1980s, and several notable projects have been completed, including Ancol and Pantai Indah Kapuk in Jakarta, Serangan Island in Bali and Pantai Losari in Makassar.[2] Although land reclamation is considered to be an alternative for land shortages, the implementation of reclamation projects remains mired in controversy, including issues relating to inappropriate planning, environmental and social damage, as well as maladministration. According to Susi Pudjiastuti, Indonesia’s Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (“Ministry”), from a total of 49 Indonesian reclamation projects, only one is supported by adequate licensing documents.[3]
 
In Indonesia, four different types of reclamation activity have been implemented at various times and in various locations, specifically: 1) Reclamation for sea-transportation purposes; 2) Reclamation for forestry rehabilitation or reforestation purposes; 3) Reclamation for mining, oil and gas purposes, as well as for geothermal activity; and 4) Reclamation within coastal areas and on small islands. Details of the regulatory frameworks covering each of these types of reclamation are listed below: