TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - A spokesperson for the Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Ministry (KKP), Wahyu Muryadi, denied any plans to lift the ban on the export of lobster seeds, stressing that Minister Sakti Wahyu Trenggono has not yet reopened the export faucet.

“Minister Sakti Wahyu Trenggono is still consistent with the Ministerial Regulation (Permen KP) No.17/2021 and perfects it with Permen KP No.16/2022 that the government does not allow anyone to trade clear lobster larvae abroad,” Wahyu said in his statement received on Friday, December 22.

Therefore, he emphasized that any act of bringing or exporting the commodity is against the law.

“The KKP, in cooperation with the police and other law enforcement officials, has also been conducting strict controls against the traffic of lobster seed abroad. This is done through regular and special operations that have resulted in the arrest of suspects with an estimated value of up to tens of billions of rupiah,” Wahyu explained.

Previously on Monday, October 18, KKP Minister Trenggono said the government was considering resuming the export, which was banned by his predecessor Susi Pudjiastuti. He claimed that the study was still in progress.

Trenggono also said the ministry would set conditions, such as requiring importers to invest in Indonesia or engage in the country's lobster cultivation. “[The policy] will be finalized as quickly as possible. It should be ready by next year,” he said after a national meeting on fisheries at the Ritz Carlton, South Jakarta, on Monday, October 18.

Minister Trenggono mentioned that illegal smuggling of lobster seed has become rampant since the government banned the commodity export.

The plan has caused controversy among the public, with some arguing that if implemented, it will harm the country in the long run.

YOHANES MAHARSO JOHARSOYO

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