Kinabalu, Malaysia (ANTARA) - The Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries is preparing a ministerial decree to regulate the minimum price of lobster seeds at the fishers' level to protect as well as improve the welfare of fishers.
In a press release issued by the ministry on Friday, head of the ministry's legal bureau, Effin Martiana, said that the ministerial decree is currently in the public consultation stage.
The latest public consultation was held in Cilacap, Central Java, on February 5, 2024, and aimed to accommodate the aspirations of people from various groups regarding the minimum price.
"Based on a survey in the field and academic study, the ministry set the temporary minimum price at Rp8,500 (approximately US$0.54) per seed," she informed.
Martiana said that the temporary minimum price was set by considering several things, including variable production costs, fixed production costs, and profit margins.
As per the draft ministerial decree, the minimum price will be evaluated at least once in six months or at any time when necessary.
The regulation of the minimum price of lobster seeds will give assurance to fishers so that they do not experience a loss when selling their catch.
It is also expected to optimize the utilization of lobster seed resources by prioritizing environmental sustainability while supporting the farming of lobster seeds, both abroad and within the country, sourced from the catch of small-scale fishers.
In addition to the draft ministerial decree, the ministry is currently preparing the Draft Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister's Regulation on Catching, Farming, and Managing Lobsters, Crabs, and Swimming Crabs.
The draft regulation is currently awaiting the harmonization process at the Ministry of Law and Human Rights.
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Translator: Sinta Ambarwati, Raka Adji
Editor: Aditya Eko Sigit Wicaksono
