Menteri Kelautan dan Perikanan Sakti Wahyu Trenggono highlighted the collaboration with Vietnam as a means to revitalize the lobster aquaculture ecosystem in Indonesia. He noted that the suboptimal ecosystem has been a hindrance to the development of the national lobster aquaculture industry. Trenggono explained that through this collaboration, the ecosystem would improve, citing issues such as feed supply, which has traditionally relied on captured small fish, while Vietnam already has its own industry for this. The bilateral cooperation agreement mandates Vietnamese businesses seeking to utilize lobster seedlings (BBL) to engage in aquaculture activities in Indonesia by partnering with local Indonesian businesses. This arrangement aims to facilitate technology transfer and work ethics crucial for the growth of Indonesia's lobster aquaculture sector.
Trenggono also addressed the challenge of the limited presence of modern lobster aquaculture cages within Indonesian businesses. Despite five Vietnamese companies entering Indonesia, lobster aquaculture activities have not yet been extensive due to cage limitations. He emphasized that the fisheries cooperation with Vietnam would not only stimulate the upstream aquaculture sector but also the downstream lobster industry by encouraging the emergence of related businesses in the field. On the private sector's role, Dirgayuza Setiawan, Director of Business Development and Control at ID FOOD, expressed confidence in Indonesia's natural and human resources for lobster aquaculture development. He stressed the importance of private sector involvement alongside government efforts. Setiawan sees potential in initiatives like the lobster aquaculture project in Bangsring, Banyuwangi, as models for private sector development alongside government-led initiatives.
