In March, at the event Fisheries Outlook 2021: Repositioning of Indonesian Aquaculture Products on the World Stage, aquaculture stakeholders discussed the way forward for a successful aquaculture industry in Indonesia. Director General of Aquaculture, Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (MMAF), Dr Slamet Soebjakto highlighted the strategies to increase aquaculture production and to reposition Indonesia in the global seafood map.
MMAF has identified three commodities: shrimp, seaweed and lobster. There are also village level community economic development programs focusing on freshwater and brackish water aquaculture.
In 2019, Indonesia was the second largest producer of lobster in Southeast Asia, after Vietnam. MMAF’s recommendation is for lobster farming around East Lombok and strengthen lobster farming communities with supply of 50g juveniles and with floating cages.
On June 18, Tempo online reported that Indonesia has officially banned the export of lobster hatchlings through the issuance of Ministerial Regulation (Permen) No. 17 of 2021 concerning the management of lobster (
Panilurus spp.), crab (Scylla spp.), and rajungan or small crabs (Portunus spp.) in the territory of the Republic of Indonesia.
“This regulation is one of my promises after being sworn in as Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries in December 2020. At that time, I emphasised that lobster hatchlings as one of Indonesia’s marine resources must be cultivated in Indonesian territory. The cultivation must also be carried out in the province where they are caught,†said Minister Sakti Wahyu Trenggono in a written statement.
The regulation also stipulates procedures for catching and cultivating translucent or unpigmented lobster hatchlings, crab, and rajungan in the archipelago. The ministry’s Acting Director-General for Aquaculture, TB Haeru Rahayu, said the policy was aimed to encourage the development of lobster cultivation in Indonesia and boost economic growth given that lobster is one of the export commodities with high economic value.
