Walhi Calls for Lobster Seeds Export to be Revoked

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Indonesian Forum for the Environment (Walhi) on Wednesday asked President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo to appoint a new Maritime and Fisheries Minister who can show commitment to revoke the controversial export policy on lobster seeds.

“As long as the minister’s regulation is not revoked, the potential for corruption to happen again remains open,” said Walhi head of national executive advocacy, Zenzi Suhadi, on Wednesday, November 25.

According to Zensi, Walhi believes the plethora of business entities that obtain the permit to export lobster seeds will push more companies to fight for export quota rights. In July 2020, the Maritime and Fisheries MInistry handed export permits for 31 companies. 

Walhi, since the introduction of the lobster seeds export by former Minister Edhy Prabowo, had strongly questioned the export policy that the organization claims will strongly threaten Indonesia’s domestic lobster market and reduce Indonesia’s position beneath Vietnam.

“We will be under Vietnam’s control because they will be flooded with Indonesian lobster seeds,” Zenzi said. “Now people will scramble to export lobsters which eventually will see Vietnam control the [lobster] market.”

This specific policy has taken down Edhy Prabowo due to corruption allegations in terms of permits given in the fisheries business and was named as suspect by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK).

Also Read: Edhy Prabowo Arrested; Ministry Asked to Revoke Lobster Seed Export Rules

FRANCISCA CHRISTY ROSANA