Edhy Prabowo Elaborates Reasons Behind Opening Lobster Export

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Maritime and Fisheries Minister Edhy Prabowo revealed his reasons for opening export of lobster hatchlings through Ministerial Regulation No. 12/2020. He underlined the policy issued based on in-depth studies.

“The regulation was drafted based on studies of experts. So let’s just see it. We also impose it under calculations,” said Edhy in a written statement on Wednesday, May 13, responding to concerns voiced by many parties regarding the export.

Edhy recalled the meeting with lobster export from the University of Tasmania in Australia that the commodity could be bred. Besides, lobster has a higher potential to live up to 70 percent under cultivation than those living in the sea.

The policy, he added, also prioritized sustainability. Exporters are allowed to export lobster seeds after carrying out cultivation and releasing two percent of their harvest to the sea.

“We demand them to regenerate two percent of the harvest to nature. I think this can maintain sustainability,” Edhy added.

Additionally, the minister concerned about the economic factor, bearing in mind that many fishers lost their livelihoods due to Ministerial Regulation No. 56/2016 on the ban of lobster export and breeding passed by his predecessor, Susi Pudjiastuti.

“We encourage sustainability while at the same time pushing for economic growth. The two must be in line. [We don’t want the commodity] to be sustainable only and let fishers lose their income, or allow fishers to catch lobster without considering existing potentials,” Edhy Prabowo remarked.

Back when Susi Pudjiastuti was serving as a minister, the export of lobster seeds was prohibited. She opined such commodity exploitation must be abandoned, and that sustainability must be the basis of the country’s natural resources industry.

HENDARTYO HANGGI