Lobster aquaculture industry in eastern Indonesia: present status and prospects

摘要

The activities of some farmers to on-grow small spiny lobsters started in early 2000 at several sites in the south of Lombok island. Wild catch of undersize lobsters were stocked in floating cages in the vicinity of the subtidal zone and fed with trash fish. After 7-8 months, they were harvested at the marketable size of 150-300 g. Lobster farming continued even though it depended on wild-caught seed. Good prices and less-expensive transport to the exporter in Bali made the farming attractive to thesmallholder. Catching the lobster juveniles then became a business segment in the industry chain after success of some farmers to grow these juveniles to a marketable size. The price of transparent seed is about rupiah (Rp)3,000/piece (US0.27), and Rp5,000-7,000/piece (U$0.46-0.64) for a size of 25-50 mm. Species of spiny lobsters exported from Indonesia include Panulirus homarus, P. ornatus, P. longipes, P. versicolor, P. polyphagus and P. penicillatus. In the southern part of Lombok, where the juveniles were found, the farming of lobster in floating net cages has made a significant contribution to the market (local and export). More than 1,500 small-scale farm units are established and produce about 4-5 t of lobsters per month. The strong market forlobsters and the success of lobster grow-out by the smallholder will ensure that lobster aquaculture will remain a profitable business. Traders prefer larger lobsters than those being produced by the lobster farmers. As the existing lobster farming methods are generating good profits for the small-scale farmers, there is not a strong incentive for farmers to produce bigger (~1 kg) lobsters. To respond to the market demand for more lobster product, the government needs to be actively engaged in developing rural coastal aquaculture. The crucial questions to be answered are: what is the strategic way to push the development; what constraints must be overcome in order to increase production and productivity; and who will be the stakeholders that control the business? This paper provides an account of the lobster farming development that has occurred in the Lombok region and efforts that are needed to sustain and enhance this development.