Export Of Indonesian Lobster Seeds Is Not Right, Because It Only Makes Vietnam Profitable

Lobster illustration. (Photo: Jacobo Tafoya / Unsplash)

JAKARTA - The Center for the Study of Maritime Development and Maritime Civilization (PK2PM) considers that the export of lobster seeds is an inappropriate policy from an economic and ecological perspective.

"From an economic and ecological point of view, lobster seed exports are not profitable," said Head of Research on Marine Economic Policy of PK2PM, Suhana in an online discussion in Jakarta, quoted from Antara, Tuesday, December 8.

Economically, according to him, the export of lobster seeds will increase the competitiveness of Vietnamese lobsters, and will reduce the competitiveness of Indonesian lobsters in the international market.

"In 2015, Vietnam was ahead of Indonesia for lobster exports. But when lobster seeds were banned by Indonesia, Vietnam experienced a decline, and Indonesia began to fill many international markets such as China. This condition increased Indonesia's competitiveness in the international market," he said.

But in 2020, he continued, Vietnam's lobster export performance would increase in line with the Indonesian government's policy of opening lobster seed exports.

He explained, in the January-July 2020 period, the import volume of lobster from most of the supply countries to China had decreased, except for Vietnam, which rose to 550.83 percent.

In terms of volume, he continued, during that period Vietnam occupied the first position as a supplier of lobster to China with a market share of 33.85 percent. Meanwhile, Indonesia is only in the top five with a market share of only 1.88 percent.

"Exports of seeds only increase Vietnam's export performance," he said.

Suhana also said that the ban on lobster seed exports was not only in Indonesia, other countries such as Australia, England, Honduras and Nicaragua also prohibited the export of lobster seeds.

He said that one of the rules in Australia is to prohibit the capture of lobsters that are ready to lay eggs, carry eggs, are in a protected life cycle stage and are legally required to return these lobsters to the water immediately.

In addition, he continued, there is also a minimum length limit to the weight of lobsters that are prohibited from being caught.

Meanwhile, ecologically, Suhana said, the exploitation of lobster seeds in nature will threaten the balance of the food chain in coastal aquatic ecosystems.

"I strongly agree with lobster cultivation, because it will become a force for the future of marine life," he said.