Lobster Seed Smuggling Must Be Stopped, Gibran: Presidential Regulation Is Immediately Ratified

Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka harvests lobster cultivation at the Marine Cultivation Fisheries Center in Batam, Riau Islands, Wednesday (10/9/2025). (ANTARA)

BATAM - Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka asked the Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Sakti Wahyu Trenggono to also encourage Presidential Regulation (Perpres) which regulates sanctions for smuggling lobster clear seeds (BBL) to be completed immediately in order to maintain marine commodity wealth.

"Regarding this Presidential Decree, we must immediately encourage it because we must stop this smuggling matter immediately. Because once again our marine wealth is extraordinary. We must protect it and this is for the welfare of our community," said Vice President Gibran in Batam, Riau Islands, Wednesday, September 10.

The Vice President assessed that the Presidential Decree, which was also emphasized by the Chairman of Commission IV of the Indonesian House of Representatives, Siti Hediati (Titiek) Suharto, was to be finalized immediately, so that there was no smuggling of lobster seeds that harmed the state.

According to Gibran, the modeling of lobster cultivation in Batam has shown satisfactory results with initial production of 1.7 tons for some to be exported to Singapore.

"From its size and the ways of breeding are very appropriate. This only remains to increase its productivity, be replicated, executed in other places," said Gibran.

In addition to lobsters, a number of other marine commodities have the potential for a blue economy, namely Napoleon fish, jade perch, star baul and tiger kerapau which must increase their productivity.

Meanwhile, Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Sakti Wahyu Trenggono said that the government was processing the stipulation of a Presidential Regulation (Perpres) regarding the Illegal Lobster Seed Eradication Task Force (BBL).

"The Presidential Decree of the illegal BBL Eradication Task Force is being carried out. It will be signed immediately. Yesterday I also conveyed it directly to the President, and he said it was being processed," said Sakti Wahyu.

This Presidential Regulation is a legal instrument in strengthening supervision and preventing the frequent smuggling of BBL.

He also said that Ministerial Regulation (Permen) Number 7 of 2024 concerning the Management of Lobster, Crab and Crab is no longer valid, especially related to external exports with the joint venture scheme.