Indonesia has a unique opportunity to establish the world’s largest lobster aquaculture industry, based on a significant natural resource of settling pueruli which is more than 100 times greater than that of Vietnam. However, its development faces substantial technical and non-technical constraints that require resolution . Solutions to these constraints are presented in the context of data on the puerulus resource, species composition, seasonality, and capture methods.
The location identified as having substantial puerulus abundance comprises the southern coast of Java, Bali, Lombok and Sumbawa covering a distance of 1,500 km. Puerulus abundance is highest in enclosed bays with distinct currents, relatively high turbidity attributable to terrestrial inflows, and muddy/sandy substrates. Aerial geographic mapping identified all such suitable locations for puerulus settlement and the area, to estimate a total puerulus catch of more than 100 million pueruli per year. This estimation has since proved accurate in the recorded catch of pueruli in recent years. The composition of puerulus fished consists of two species, Panulirus homarus and P. ornatus . A new fisheries policy has been issued to provide a regulatory framework to manage the puerulus fishery and support lobster farming. L obster aquaculture is a major opportunity for high-value aquaculture production for the Indonesian economy.