Jakarta (ANTARA) - Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister Sakti Wahyu Trenggono expressed optimism that Indonesia would be able to become a strong lobster producer in Southeast Asia, as the government is continuously boosting farming efforts.

He made the statement at the free fish distribution event at the office of the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries in Jakarta on Friday.

The ministry has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Vietnam regarding cooperation in lobster farming.

He noted that the collaboration with Vietnam is an opportunity for Indonesia to improve the quality of its lobster farming and to be able to conduct exports.

Hundreds of millions of lobster seeds are exported from Indonesia illegally every year. The lobster seeds are then farmed in several other countries, including Vietnam.

Trenggono claims that his ministry continues to apprehend lobster seed smuggling perpetrators at airports in Jakarta, Denpasar, and Makassar, among others.

To this end, cooperation with Vietnam is expected to be able to tackle the problem. Vietnam will later invest in Indonesia to develop lobster farming.

"I asked them to invest in Indonesia. Vietnam is keen to invest, and they also hope that this pattern will make them more organized," he remarked.

Trenggono highlighted that what is crucial is that Vietnam is sharing its experience in developing lobster farming.

"They (Vietnamese investors) should partner with local communities to farm here. Later on, should they wish to export lobster seeds to their country, then they need to pay to this country,” he remarked.

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Translator: Arif Prada, Raka Adji
Editor: Anton Santoso
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