Lupa Kata Sandi? Klik di Sini

atau Masuk melalui

Belum Memiliki Akun Daftar di Sini


atau Daftar melalui

Sudah Memiliki Akun Masuk di Sini

Konfirmasi Email

Kami telah mengirimkan link aktivasi melalui email ke rudihamdani@gmail.com.

Klik link aktivasi dan dapatkan akses membaca 2 artikel gratis non Laput di koran dan Majalah Tempo

Jika Anda tidak menerima email,
Kirimkan Lagi Sekarang

Lobster Politics

Translator

Tempo.co

Editor

Laila Afifa

8 July 2020 15:03 WIB

TEMPO.CO, JakartaTHE decision by Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister Edhy Prabowo opening the door to exports of lobster larvae is a grave error.

Not only will it cause the state to potentially lose foreign exchange revenue from this lucrative sector, but it is also fair to suspect that it will only benefit a small number of people who happen to be close to the minister.

Edhy must immediately revoke Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Ministry Regulation No. 12/2020 which was issued on May 5. As a result of this regulation, exports of lobster larvae, which were banned in the era of minister Susi Pudjiastuti, will once again flow freely. Larvae, or lobsters weighing less than 200 grams with carapaces shorter than eight centimeters, which in the past had to be cultivated in this country, can now be freely sold overseas.

With this regulation by Minister Edhy, the positive achievements of our fisheries and maritime sector over the last five years will be undone. The hard work done in seeking a compromise between economic interests and ecological needs to bring about sustainable development will be back to square one. The vision of a blue economy that had been hoped for in Indonesia’s future now seems increasingly out of reach.

According to Edhy, it is important to allow exports in order to provide incomes for fishermen who catch larvae in Indonesia's waters. He is also certain that his policy will result in foreign exchange revenues because, according to his calculations, lobster larvae can be sold for up to Rp139,000 each. According to the Gerindra politician, it has only been possible for one percent of larvae to develop in the wild because Indonesia does not have adequate lobster cultivation technology. He also claims that the export ban only led to an increase in smuggling.

This is clearly an arbitrary view. If lobsters can be cultivated for at least six months in this country, the price can increase tenfold. Not only fishermen who catch the larvae, but people living by the sea who earn a living from lobster cultivation could also see their incomes increase. According to the Central Statistics Agency, the value of adult Panulirus lobsters exports in 2018 was US$28.5 million, four times higher than the 2015 figure. This was only for exports between 1,000 and 1,200 tons. Just imagine the value if lobster cultivation could be carried out in this country. Therefore, Edhy should accelerate the development of lobster cultivation technology.

There is more. Can the government guarantee that allowing exports will reduce the smuggling of larvae? The opposite could happen: because exports are now allowed, there could be an increase in the illegal catching of larvae. The legalization of exports as a way of preventing smuggling shows the fundamental logical flaw in Minister Edhy's thinking.

However, the main reason to question this policy is the appearance of cronies of the minister on the list of export companies awarded a quota to catch lobster larvae. This list was approved by the government before the national commission on the study of fish resources had even released the results of its study on the availability of natural larvae stocks.

Some suspect that dozens of companies on this list did not actually fulfill the conditions required by the government. Many of them have only just entered the larvae export business. They clearly have never cultivated lobsters and or carried out restocking by releasing some of the products of the cultivation back into the wild as required by the ministerial regulation.

It is strongly suspected that the approval of these companies is related to the background of their owners. An investigation by this magazine uncovered the names of senior party members and politicians close to Edhy on the list. It would be truly regrettable if the government policy simply turned into a cash cow for party politicians. There is a strong aroma of corruption in this type of practice.

Moreover, there are a number of problematic individuals on the list of prospective exporters approved by the maritime affairs and fisheries ministry. Some have past convictions for smuggling lobster larvae. The appearance of their names strengthens the suspicion that the new regulation is a way to wipe the slate clean for these smugglers. Law enforcement authorities must take action. They must be proactive in investigating the possibility of further crimes.

If Minister Edhy insists on going retaining this regulation, President Joko Widodo should intervene and revoke it. Even if nature conservation is not high in the list for the President's consideration, at the very least Jokowi must consider the possibility of the disappearance of trillions of rupiah of state revenues as a result of the mistaken policy of his subordinate.

Read the Complete Story in this Week's Edition of Tempo English Magazine



Election Fraud in a Neighboring Country

13 jam lalu

Election Fraud in a Neighboring Country

Seven members of the Kuala Lumpur PPLN are proven to have inflated the number of voters for the 2024 elections.


Freeport Calls to Extend Copper Concentrate Export License in Indonesia

14 jam lalu

Freeport Calls to Extend Copper Concentrate Export License in Indonesia

President Director of Freeport Indonesia Tony Wenas highlighted the urgency of extending the government's copper concentrate export license.


Because the State Is Not an Entrepreneur

1 hari lalu

Because the State Is Not an Entrepreneur

The government plans to accelerate the privatization of state-owned enterprises. Stop paying out budget funds for state companies.


Helena Lim Named as Suspect of PT Timah Corruption Case

2 hari lalu

Helena Lim Named as Suspect of PT Timah Corruption Case

The Attorney General's Office or AGO has named Helena Lim as a suspect for alleged corruption in the tin trading system in the PT Timah Busines Permit


Ignoring the Rights of Indigenous People

2 hari lalu

Ignoring the Rights of Indigenous People

Indigenous people are taking legal action against the President and the DPR for delaying deliberations of a bill. It has taken second place to the int


China Changes Tack on Water Politics

3 hari lalu

China Changes Tack on Water Politics

Long a source of tension with its neighbours, China's transboundary rivers are opening opportunities for regional cooperation.


BTN Syariah's Acquisition of Bank Muamalat

6 hari lalu

BTN Syariah's Acquisition of Bank Muamalat

The government is to combine BTN's Sharia business unit with Bank Muamalat. This could lead to problems.


Lackadaisical Disaster Mitigation

7 hari lalu

Lackadaisical Disaster Mitigation

Hydrometeorological disasters hit a number of areas in Indonesia. Ironically, mitigation efforts are not yet a priority.


Child Pornography Syndicate in Indonesia

8 hari lalu

Child Pornography Syndicate in Indonesia

The crime of child pornography is continuing to spread. Perpetrators can operate from inside the jail.


KPK Questions 4 Bandung DPRD Members in Smart City CCTV Procurement Bribery Investigation

9 hari lalu

KPK Questions 4 Bandung DPRD Members in Smart City CCTV Procurement Bribery Investigation

During the development of the case, KPK investigators have named a new suspect, Bandung City Regional Secretary Ema Sumarna.