Jakarta. Indonesia will permanently prohibit exports of lobster seeds as part of its strategy to expand domestic aquaculture, increase the value of its fisheries industry, and curb persistent smuggling, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister Sakti Wahyu Trenggono said Monday.

"The ban will remain in place permanently," Trenggono told reporters after the launch of a special task force to combat illegal lobster seed shipments at the Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Ministry in Jakarta.

He said the policy was based on Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Ministerial Regulation No. 5/2026 and Presidential Regulation No. 69/2026, which require lobster cultivation to take place within Indonesian territory.

However, the government will continue to allow exports of farm-raised lobsters weighing at least 50 grams, provided exporters comply with applicable requirements, including documentation certifying the lobsters' origin.

Trenggono said Indonesia wanted to retain more of the economic benefits generated by its abundant marine resources by prioritizing lobster farming and grow-out operations at home rather than exporting juvenile lobsters for cultivation overseas.

"If overseas buyers still need them, they will have to sit down and talk with us," he said.

Indonesia Targets 1,100 Tons of Farmed Lobster
Speaking at the event, Trenggono estimated Indonesia's potential lobster seed supply at approximately 500 million juveniles annually.

The ministry has set a target of producing 1,100 tons of farm-raised lobster in 2026, more than double the 481 tons recorded in 2024.

National farmed lobster production had previously increased from 437 tons in 2023 to 481 tons in 2024, reflecting gradual growth in domestic cultivation.

The government has also begun demonstrating the export potential of lobsters raised domestically.

In September 2026, the ministry reported that 339.5 kilograms of lobster produced through a pilot aquaculture project in Batam, Riau Islands, had been marketed to Singapore.

The shipment provided an example of how Indonesia could continue supplying overseas markets while keeping lobster cultivation and more of the associated economic activity within the country.

New Task Force to Crack Down on Smuggling
Trenggono said stronger law enforcement would be essential to the success of the policy, particularly as illegal shipments of lobster seeds continue despite existing restrictions.

"The immediate priority is law enforcement so that illegal exports can be stopped," he said.

The newly established task force brings together government ministries, state agencies and law enforcement authorities to prevent and combat lobster seed smuggling.

Trenggono said Indonesia had spent approximately two years attempting to develop bilateral cooperation with neighboring countries, but those efforts had not succeeded in ending the illegal trade.

He reiterated that Indonesia remained open to discussing lawful cooperation arrangements with countries seeking access to its lobster resources.

However, he stressed that destination countries should not continue accepting lobster seeds illegally transported out of Indonesia.

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