Lobster Seed Exports Open, Smuggling Continues

The government has also set a quota for transparent lobster seeds that can be exploited up to 419,213,719 individuals, or 90% of the estimated lobster seed stock in Indonesia. Meanwhile, the lowest benchmark price for transparent lobster seeds at the fisherman level was set at Rp 8,500 per individual.

So far, five Vietnamese companies have partnered with domestic companies and obtained legal status. These companies are allowed to export lobster seeds to Vietnam as long as they have planted the seeds in lobster cultivation locations in Indonesia.

Also Read: Trillions of Rupiahs of Lobster Seeds Evaporate on the South Sumatra Transit Line

The export partnership scheme for clear lobster seeds has not been able to prevent the practice of smuggling these seeds. Smuggling of these seeds is still rampant with prices far exceeding the official government benchmark.

This week, The Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries received 99,648 clear lobster seeds resulting from smuggling which was successfully foiled by the Indonesian Navy team on Rimau Island, Banyuasin Regency, South Sumatra. In detail, there are 89,268 clear seeds of sand type lobsters and 10,380 pearl types. The value is estimated at IDR 14.94 billion.

Previously, in April 2024, the East Tanjung Jabung District Police in Jambi Province thwarted the smuggling of 148,455 transparent lobster seeds. In February 2024, the smuggling of transparent lobster seeds through Lombok Airport in West Nusa Tenggara was also thwarted by Aviation Security (Avsec) of PT Angkasa Pura 1 Lombok Airport, with a total of 18,952 transparent lobster seeds.

Director of the Maritime Study Center for Humanity, Abdul Halim, believes that the policy of opening the tap for lobster seed exports is not a solution for sustainable and responsible use of lobster seeds in Indonesia. Meanwhile, weak governance in the use and monitoring of the lobster seed shipping route opens up opportunities for smuggling lobster seeds.

"The uncertainty of the clear lobster seed business ecosystem in the country is caused by the inconsistent policies from policymakers at the national level, which encourage many people to think in an instant manner. As a result, the policy to export clear lobster seeds does not dampen smuggling practices, but actually triggers more people to participate," he said when contacted on Thursday (9/5/2024).

The Vice Chairman of the Indonesian Aquaculture Society (MAI), Budhy Fantigo, has stated that the smuggling of clear lobster seeds will continue despite the government's official opening of the seed export tap. Moreover, during the period of April to October, the lobster seed harvesting season is currently ongoing.

Budhy added that from the investigation conducted on May 6, 2024, clear lobster seeds from Indonesia were smuggled at a selling price of Rp 27,000 to Rp 30,000 per head according to zoning. The selling price of the smuggled seeds is much higher than the government's minimum benchmark price for clear lobster seeds. Shipping routes include Juanda Airport in Surabaya, South Sumatra, and Jambi. The selling price is estimated to become even more expensive during the clear lobster seed scarcity season, which falls between November and March.

Similar statements were made by the Head of the Center for Resources and Coastal Studies at IPB University, Yonvitner, when contacted on Thursday. The government should realize that exporting clear lobster seeds is not a solution to control smuggling. The government should focus on curbing the smuggling of clear lobster seeds by ensuring surveillance at the dark entry points of smuggling routes as part of surveillance efforts.

Likewise, the Deputy Chancellor of the Muhammadiyah University of Technology, Suhana, believes that the lobster seed export policy is contradictory to efforts to tackle smuggling. The export of clear lobster seeds has been opened to companies that partner with investors. Meanwhile, the main problem of smuggling clear lobster seeds has not been resolved. "BBL smuggling will actually become more widespread if inter-regional traffic is not strictly monitored. "Moreover, there is no prohibition on the movement of clear lobster seeds between regions," said Suhana.

Also Read: Export of Clear Lobster Seeds Profits Foreigners

Many paths

Acting Director General of Marine and Fisheries Resources Supervision at the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (KKP), Pung Nugroho, revealed that the smuggling of transparent lobster seeds is increasingly rampant, in line with the lobster seed catching season.

"The smuggling of clear lobster seeds is becoming more and more rampant during the season. We hope for future synergy from authorities to thwart such smuggling," he said in a press statement earlier this week.

Pung explained that the modus operandi for smuggling transparent lobster seeds, besides through sea routes, is also carried out through air routes, namely through airports. Therefore, it is necessary to strengthen cooperation between ministries/agencies in monitoring and enforcing the law against smugglers and illegal activities that can disrupt the sustainability of transparent lobster seed resources.

According to the Special Assistant to the Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries for Media and Public Communication, Doni Ismanto, the issuance of Ministerial Regulation No. 7 of 2024 is another effort by the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries to suppress the illegal smuggling of lobster seeds. This policy will also strengthen the lobster cultivation ecosystem domestically and increase non-tax state revenue through the official trade of clear lobster seeds with partner countries, namely Vietnam.

Evidence of clear lobster seeds that were planned to be smuggled into Singapore was presented to the media at a press conference at the Indonesian Navy Base in Palembang, South Sumatra, on Monday (May 6th, 2024).

The Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries has released data showing that the smuggling of clear lobster seeds from Indonesia to Vietnam is estimated to reach 600 million annually, with a value of around 3 billion US dollars. The lobsters grown by Vietnam are then absorbed by the Chinese market.

Responding to the ongoing potential of smuggling of glass seeds lobster, Minister of Marine Affairs and Fisheries Sakti Wahyu Trenggono assesses that the Chinese market is increasingly demanding traceability for lobster seeds. Therefore, Vietnam is interested in taking official and certified seeds from Indonesia.

"He (China Market) demands the origin of lobster seeds. They (Vietnam) have no choice but to take officially certified seeds that are of authentic Indonesian genetic origin. They can develop them there and selling it will not be a problem," said Trenggono during the Indonesia Aquaculture Business Forum 2024 press conference in Jakarta on Monday (29/4/2024).

The shipment of seeds from Indonesia to other countries is only allowed if the seeds have been sown in the cultivation location. So far, lobster cultivation has been started by those PMA companies in Jembrana, Bali. "Once the seeding process has started, only then they can send (the seeds), without having to wait for the harvest (of the cultivation)," said Trenggono.