Minister Trenggono Invites Vietnam To Fight Lobster Seed Smuggling

Minister of Marine Affairs and Fisheries Sakti Wahyu Trenggono/PHOTO VIA ANTARA

JAKARTA - The Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Sakti Wahyu Trenggono invites the Vietnamese government to work together to combat the smuggling of Lobster Seed (BBL) activities.

Minister Trenggono said this cooperation was a form of confirmation that both Indonesia and Vietnam were committed to combating illegal fishing practices or fishing theft and had a commitment to manage and develop the fisheries sector in their respective countries in a sustainable way according to the blue economy principle.

"In the country, we are also firm against smugglers of fried shrimp. Our TNI and Polri are cooperating with this and are ready to give strict sanctions," said Minister Trenggono as quoted by Antara, Monday, July 19

Trenggono also emphasized that the Indonesian government through the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) prohibits the export of BBL through the Minister of Marine Affairs and Fisheries Regulation (Permen KP) Number 17 of 2021. The taking of marine biota from nature may only be carried out to support domestic aquaculture activities.

The steps taken by the Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries to close the BBL export faucet to encourage domestic lobster cultivation, increase foreign exchange through consumption of lobster exports, community economic growth, and ensure the sustainability of BBL and lobster in nature.

A number of steps have been taken by Minister Trenggono to support the development of lobster farming productivity in Indonesia, one of which is opening up opportunities for aquaculture cooperation with Vietnam.

The Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries has also held a meeting with the Indonesian Ambassador to Vietnam to discuss this matter. "We will make sure to provide space for cultivators in Vietnam to do business in Indonesia," he said.

Meanwhile, the Indonesian Ambassador to Vietnam, Denny Abdi, confirmed that he had opened communication with the Vietnamese government regarding the plan to strengthen bilateral cooperation between the two countries, especially in the field of fisheries.

"We have communicated with the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development who oversees the marine and fisheries business in Vietnam. We have met with him and have conveyed the commitment of the Indonesian government," said Ambassador Denny Abdi.

In addition, his party is also arranging a ministerial meeting of the two countries to discuss further cooperation. Ambassador Denny said this cooperation has the potential to make Indonesia and Vietnam a source of world seafood.