TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Business Competition Supervisory Commission (KPPU) detected an alleged monopoly on the shipping of lobster seeds export. The commissioner Guntur Syah Saragih said his agency is conducting a study to examine the issue.

“The shipping service activities are concentrated on one particular party. KPPU notices no business competition there,” said Guntur in a virtual conference on Thursday, November 12, 2020.

According to him, the study followed a report of an association engaged in the lobster hatchlings industry to the KPPU some time ago. However, he stopped short of mentioning the association, adding that the report said exporters could only deliver the commodity through one forwarder or shipping firm.

The delivery is also centered at Soekarno-Hatta Airport although lobster exporters are spread across the archipelago based on the fisheries management area (WPP).

Guntur said his side is communicating with the Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Ministry. From the preliminary study, it was found that the ministry did not only tap one firm to be responsible for the export shipping of lobster seeds. Besides, the existing rules noted that the government widely opens opportunities for companies to run the business.

The KPPU, Guntur went on, would continue to conduct an investigation to find evidence in the alleged monopoly practice.

Read: Ministry Revokes 14 Export Permits of Lobster Seeds

FRANCISCA CHRISTY ROSANA