TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Former maritime affairs and fisheries minister Susi Pudjiastuti lamented the government’s plan to open exports of lobster seeds. She said the marine biota has a very high economic value when it grows as lobster, not the seeds.

Susi opined such exports will cause losses for fishermen. Thus she demanded fishermen reconsider their plan to export lobster seeds.

“Fishermen, don’t be stupid. Or otherwise, we will be harmed if it [exports plan] is overlooked,” said Susi while having a dinner that she posted on her social media account @susipudjiastuti on Tuesday, December 10.

According to her, selling lobster seeds is indeed faster than selling the grown ones as that does not require time and intensive treatment. However, the export result is not worth the risk of environmental damage. This is because exporting a huge amount of lobster seeds will threaten the life sustainability of lobster in its natural habitat.

Adult lobster, she went on, has a high value. For example, it does not worth less than Rp800,000 for one kilogram. “While the seed sells for only Rp30,000. How much is our loss?” she remarked.

Susi further mentioned that one pearl adult lobster weighing 400 grams can worth up to Rp1 million. Thus she deplored that species of marine biota are only sold at Rp300,000 to Vietnam.

Previous reports suggested that Susi Pudjiastuti's successor Edhy Prabowo hinted he will reopen lobster seeds export under a certain quota.

EKO WAHYUDI