TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Deputy secretary of Gerindra Party, Andre Rosiade, openly defended Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister Edhy Prabowo’s consideration to open the exports on lobster seeds as it has been curbed under the leadership of former minister Susi Pudjiastuti.

According to Andre, the suggestion to reopen the export has not been finalized and, for the time being, remains as a suggestion.

“However, what the public must know is that lobster seeds had been exported illegally. Even under the leadership of Susi Pudjiastuti, which also saw illegal exports,” said Andre at the Senayan Parliamentary Complex on Tuesday, December 17.

Andre argues that Minister Edhy is trying to find a middle ground between preserving domestic lobster seeds and eliminating illegal exports. He defends that it is not a move to gain popularity, but for a collective purpose.

“Edhy is studying if the export routes are open, would exporting lobster seeds be profitable for Indonesia and whether lobster seed population would be preserved.Those are being studied, so [Susi Pudjiastuti] should not [scream for attention] like that,” said Andre.

Edhy Prabowo’s predecessor, Susi Pudjiastuti, was more than vocal on Twitter after rumors about opening the exports for lobster seeds arose. “Other countries that have lobster seeds doesn’t even sell them. Except us, because it would be foolish,” she once tweeted.

BISNIS.COM