BPBL Batam notes rising interest in modelling lobster farming

Batam, Kepulauan Riau — The Balai Perikanan Budidaya Laut (BPBL) Batam, in the Riau Islands (Kepri), says public interest in lobster farming using the modelling system has begun to rise in line with the development of farming technology over the past two years. Ipong Adi Guna, head of BPBL Batam, said the Kepri region, especially Batam, has water quality suitable for lobster farming development. ‘Technically, water quality in Kepri and Batam is good enough for lobster farming activities. We have done this through the development of modelling lobster farming at BPBL Batam, and the results are proceeding well,’ he said when contacted in Batam on Saturday. He said that to date there are 13 lobster farmers in BPBL Batam’s working area covering Kepri, Riau, and West Sumatra who have registered business licenses and are verified. However, for the modelling of lobster farming starting from lobster seed (BBL) to consumer size, it is still dominated by BPBL Batam because the technology is relatively new to be implemented. ‘Lobster farming modelling has only been running for about two years, so many in the community have not yet adopted it,’ he said. According to Ipong, some people in Kepri and Batam run lobster grow-out businesses traditionally. ‘Lobster grow-out in the community is generally still traditional, using seeds caught from the wild, not BBL from modelling,’ he said. He explained that demand for edible lobster in Batam and surrounding areas is quite high, so opportunities for lobster farming remain wide open. ‘If lobster farming is further developed, the opportunity to meet market needs will also grow,’ he said. In terms of economic values, Ipong noted that the price of BBL at the fishermen’s level ranges from Rp8,500 to Rp10,000 per unit. ‘At the collectors’ level, prices reach Rp12,000 to Rp14,000 per unit, excluding delivery costs. For the overseas market previously, prices could range from Rp20,000 to Rp25,000 per unit,’ he said. However, under the Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Regulation Number 5 of 2026, BBL is only for domestic cultivation and export is not allowed. According to Ipong, high foreign demand for BBL has been a factor in the proliferation of lobster seed smuggling abroad. ‘Foreign demand is very high, while BBL catch quotas are limited by the government, so smuggling remains frequent,’ he said. Previously, the Kepri Police thwarted smuggling of 122,000 BBL that would be sent abroad from Batam on Wednesday (21/5). He added that BPBL Batam continues to provide guidance through disseminating lobster farming technology, consultations with the public, and coordination with relevant agencies to update data on lobster farmers in Kepri and Batam.