Jokowi Orders Edhy Prabowo to be Mindful on Lobster Export Plan
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26 December 2019 06:48 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister Edhy Prabowo claimed he had coordination with President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo regarding the plan on lobster seeds export. He said the President suggested him not to hastily make a decision.
“We have reported about it, he [the President] asked us to not be hasty. His order is clear,” said Edhy at an open house event at Coordinating Minister of Maritime and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan’s residence in Jakarta, Wednesday, December 25.
Edhy appealed to the public to not have prejudice about policies he will pass. “Do not talk about it as if we want to exploit our nature limitlessly. I am not that kind of person.”
The minister strongly believed that the sustainability of the Indonesian marine industry could only develop if it is based on the principle of sustainability. Therefore, his side will revise one of the many rules stipulated in the Ministerial Decrees No. 56 of 2016 concerning the ban on catching and exporting lobster and crab.
According to Edhy, complaints related to lobsters were voiced by fishermen who were trying to breed them. "This is also prohibited because it [lobster seeds] must be returned to nature. While we know that in the wild, only 1 percent of them can survive," he added.
The plan to allow the export of lobster seeds was opposed by Susi Pudjiastuti. The former minister of maritime affairs and fisheries said lobster had already on the verge of extinction as many people did not care about the sustainability of the marine biota.
"The method of catching these lobster seeds is applied massively and easy so that it will quickly deplete natural stocks," said Susi, expressing her concerns.
MUHAMMAD HENDARTYO
