JAKARTA - Regulation of the Minister of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (Permen KP) Number 12 of 2020 concerning the management of lobsters, crabs and crab which was signed by Edhy Prabowo on May 4, 2020, drew criticism. The candy is considered to be detrimental to fishermen and to damage cultivation.
Then, rumors emerged that there was a game in determining which companies were granted export licenses and that there was no transparency. The Ombudsman and a number of parties assessed that the implementation of the Permen has the potential to cause unfair competition.
Ombudsman member Alamsyah Saragih assessed that the implementation of the Permen was high risk in terms of administrative accountability. Moreover, he said, there is a potential for fraud in these exports.
"Because the determination is limited in nature, it will potentially conflict with the principles of fair business competition," said Alamsyah in a statement received by VOI, Monday, June 8.
Alamsyah continued, the government's political promise to increase local added value in the supply chain must be a reference. He questioned Minister Edhy Prabowo's commitment to this matter. Regulations concerning many people and the future of Indonesia's natural resources, he continued, should be prepared in a more participatory manner. This principle is fundamental to state administration.
The Ombudsman also suggested that the Ministerial Regulation be reviewed more deeply. The Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries, he stressed, should not only calculate profit and loss.
"That's not the way to manage the country," he said.
The Ombudsman reminded the government to act transparently in appointing exporters. Do not let those who are elected tonight, those who were previously involved in smuggling lobsters and their seeds, are chosen instead.
On the other hand, there is also news that in implementing this Permen, there is an obligation to export through certain companies that are widely reported to be affiliated, with non-standard shipping rates for lobster fry. The calculation for the shipment of fry is not calculated based on the standard of shipment, but is determined at Rp. 2,300 per fry. There is also an obligation from the designated fishing land. Against all these rumors, the Ombudsman emphasized, integrity must be applied.
"Just imprison the smuggler," he said.
Secretary General of the People's Coalition for Fisheries Justice (KIARA), Susan Herawati, assessed that Permen KP 12/2020 is a victory for investors, exporters and importers. This regulation poses a threat to the livelihood of fishermen, the sustainability of fishery resources, and the national economy.
"The Permen KP 12/2020 is very pro-investor and exporter, and betrays small and traditional fishermen," said Susan.
According to him, the regulation signed by Minister Edhy states that small fishermen must be registered in the fishermen group at the lobster seed catching location, and small fishermen who catch lobster seeds are determined by the Directorate General of Capture Fisheries.
"The question is, does the KKP (Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries) have data on the number and distribution of all small fishing groups in Indonesia?" he said.
So, said Susan, this Permen KP 12/2020 clearly threatens the lives of fishermen.
"We noted that the price of lobster seeds in Vietnam reached Rp. 139 thousand per head. Meanwhile, lobster seeds that were caught by fishermen were only valued at Rp. 3,000-Rp. 5,000 domestically. This is a portrait of injustice that will continue to threaten the lives of lobster fishermen," he explained.
Susan is worried that the existence of this Regulation of the Minister of Maritime Affairs and Regulations 12/2020 will actually provide opportunities for certain investors and exporters to flirt. For that, law enforcers must anticipate it.
"Of course (there is a gap to play for investors), that's why it must be anticipated. But seeing the KPK weakened is also hard," he said.
Meanwhile, Commissioner for the Supervision of Business Competition (KPPU) Chandra Setiawan said he would study the regulations in this Ministerial Decree. However, Chandra admitted that the KPPU will discuss the export of seeds and the alleged fraud in the circulating news at a meeting this Monday.
"I don't know what the seed business model is and what the regulations are, so I can't give any further comments," he said.
KKP Against Smuggling
Regarding this, the Head of the Stakeholder-Stakeholder Commission and Public Consultation of the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (KP2-KKP) Effendi Gazali emphasized that he would fight the smuggling of lobster seeds whose value is estimated to reach up to around Rp900 billion per year.
In addition, he said, another position is that they will not export lobster seeds until they have an MoU or a Memorandum of Understanding to build hatcheries or hatcheries. He also emphasized that KP2-KKP is always pro towards cultivation by sharing knowledge and empowering the community or lobster cultivators regarding this issue.
One of the points at issue is the difference of opinion regarding the opinion that lobsters are being threatened with extinction.
"If the world agency CITES and IUCN do not declare lobsters to be threatened with extinction, I believe them. Moreover, lobsters can be hatched in hatcheries," he said.
Director General of Aquaculture at the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries, Slamet Soebjakto, said that the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries will continue to encourage cultivation efforts with the issuance of Permen KP 12/2020, especially encouraging increased lobster cultivation in the regions.
Because, he said, it would lead to various groups of new economic activities such as the shellfish commodity group, considering that green mussels are known as good feed for lobster cultivation.
Regarding exports, Slamet said KKP continues to monitor and evaluate exporting companies that have obtained permits to export. Exporters must also meet the quotas allowed for export and must not exceed the amount cultivated.
The English, Chinese, Japanese, Arabic, and French versions are automatically generated by the AI. So there may still be inaccuracies in translating, please always see Indonesian as our main language. (system supported by DigitalSiber.id)
