JAKARTA, Oct. 12 (Xinhua) -- The Indonesian government on Monday inaugurated a task force dedicated to combating lobster seed smuggling, as part of broader efforts to protect the country's marine resources and support its domestic aquaculture industry.
Marine Affairs and Fisheries Minister Sakti Wahyu Trenggono said during the task force launch that Indonesia's annual lobster larva population is estimated at around 500 million.
Trenggono said the task force is necessary because combating well-organized lobster seed smuggling networks requires coordinated action across multiple institutions.
Earlier on Sept. 3, Jakarta police seized around 150,000 contraband lobster larvae, underscoring the ongoing threat of illegal exports. ■