Opening The Lobster Seed Export Faucet, Edhy Prabowo Claims It Will Not Extend

JAKARTA - Minister of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) Edhy Prabowo said that the lobster cultivation policy in Indonesia is measurable and controlled. He claims, this policy will not make lobsters extinct in Indonesia.

According to Edhy, for one egg laying, lobsters can produce 1 million lobster seeds. So, based on this calculation, the export policy will not make its existence extinct.

"From an environmental perspective, there are concerns that these lobsters will become extinct if they are taken. (In fact) one lobster can lay up to 1 million eggs," he said, during a hearing with Commission IV of the House of Representatives, at the Parliament Building, Monday, July 6.

Furthermore, Edhy explained, lobsters that are in an area with a summer of only four months can make lobsters spawn four times.

"This is the result of research in Tasmania. Indonesia is an area with a lot of sunshine and during the summer. We have not yet examined whether it can lay eggs throughout the year, but with just one million times the number is twice the estimate we made before, "he said.

Edhy said, based on his calculations, a total of 26 billion lobsters from the six types of lobsters lay eggs in Indonesia's fisheries management area (WPP). As a supposition, if there are 100 million lobster seeds that are taken by the community and sold for Rp. 5,000, a cash circulation of Rp. 500 billion will appear.

"There are six types of lobster. Because only two are popular, namely pearl lobster and sand lobster. By only dividing it by 2 lobsters, it is about 26 times 2/6 percent, a figure appears above IDR 5 billion. For 10 percent, that's 500. million (export quota) that we allow, I really believe this will not (make it extinct), "he said.

On the other hand, Edhy argued that the export policy accompanied by cultivation obligations could make lobster seeds survive. He gave an example that the data he had showed that the rate of lobster seeds that could mature in the wild was only 0.02 percent.

"26 lobster seeds can only mature 1 tail. Cultivated 30 to 80 percent," he explained.

Previously, the former Minister of Marine Affairs and Fisheries, Susi Pudjiastuti, via her personal Twitter account insinuated that the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries under the leadership of Edhy Prabowo had allowed the export of lobster seeds. What used to be during Susi's leadership was strictly prohibited.

Susi explained the list of companies that have obtained the permit to catch lobster seeds from the KKP. From the data revealed by Susi, there are 26 companies that have obtained permits.