Indonesia forms task force to combat lobster seed smuggling

The Indonesian government has established the Lobster Seed Smuggling Eradication Task Force (Satgas P2BBL) to combat organized illegal exports of lobster seeds. Formed under Presidential Regulation Number 69 of 2026, the task force aims to protect the nation's maritime economic potential, which is estimated to be worth approximately USD 1 billion or IDR 17.9 trillion annually.

Minister of Marine Affairs and Fisheries Sakti Wahyu Trenggono confirmed that the export of lobster seeds (BBL) is permanently halted to prioritize domestic aquaculture development. This policy is supported by Ministerial Regulation Number 5 of 2026. The government intends to ensure that the economic value of these resources is captured within Indonesia through controlled cultivation.

Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs Dudung Abdurachman instructed the task force to adopt a ‘follow the network’ and ‘follow the money’ approach. This strategy is designed to move beyond arresting low-level couriers and instead target the financiers and organizers behind the smuggling networks. The task force will coordinate data collection, prevention, and law enforcement across land, sea, and air routes to dismantle these organized criminal chains.