Ministry Calls For Optimizing Of Lobster Domestic Market

Jakarta, April 22 (Antara) - The Ministry of Maritime and Fisheries Affairs (KKP) called on all related parties to help optimize domestic market of lobsters as demand for this commodity continues to increase and be prospective. "Demand for lobsters in the domestic market is high. Jakarta alone needs some two tons of lobsters per day," Fishery Director General of the KKP Slamet Soebjakto said in a written statement here on Monday. He said that besides Jakarta, other regions also needed lobsters such as Bali, Yoyakarta and Bandung. The director general said that lobster market in the country could reach 20 tons per day. "We predict that demand for lobsters will continue to increase in line with the development of tourism in the country," the director general of cultured fishery affairs said. He said that with the increasing number of foreign tourist arrivals in the country, many restaurants had been serving lobsters for their guests. In addition, the increase in the purchasing power of Indonesian people also boosted the demand for lobsters at home. "The price of lobsters in the domestic market reaches between Rp50,000 and Rp60,000 per kg. This price can multiply if the commodity is already in the form of dishes," he said. Besides in the domestic market, lobsters are also sought in international markets. Slamet said that the export market for lobsters included Thailand, Japan and China. "For these countries, lobsters are very delicious dishes and have high protein contents," he said. He said that Indonesia was not yet able to meet demand for lobsters because it still lacked stocks. Lobster exporters said that market overseas was open wide. "There is no need to worry about lobsters` market because this commodity will certainly be absorbed by the market," the director general said.