tambak

Tambak is a type of shallow, man-made pond used for brackish-water aquaculture, common in Indonesia and parts of Southeast Asia. The word comes from Indonesian for a tidal or brackish-water pond, typically built along coastlines to exploit tidal exchange.

Tambak ponds are enclosed by earthen embankments and equipped with sluice gates and drainage channels. Water is kept in by the dikes; inflow and outflow are controlled to manage salinity, oxygen, and temperature. They are typically supplied by tidal water or brackish groundwater, and salinity varies with the season. The farms mainly target milkfish (bandeng) and shrimp, though other species can be raised. Some tambak practice polyculture with mud crabs, mollusks, or fish.

Historically, tambak has supported coastal livelihoods for centuries and remains a significant source of seafood in Indonesia. Regions with extensive tambak include coastal Java, Sumatra, Sulawesi, and eastern Indonesia, along with the Malay Peninsula and other parts of Southeast Asia.

Environmental concerns include mangrove deforestation for pond expansion, changes in coastal hydrology, nutrient runoff, disease outbreaks in dense populations, and reliance on fry capture from the wild. Sustainable practices emphasize mangrove protection, water management, biosecurity, and integrated multi-trophic systems.

Modern tambak operations are expanding toward intensification, feed optimization, disease control, and certification schemes. Governments and industry bodies promote responsible farming, environmental monitoring, and land-use planning to balance production with coastal ecosystem health.