Jakarta ( WNAM MONITORING): The Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) has issued 292 export permit documents, known as Certificates of Admissibility (CoA), to facilitate business actors exporting swimming crab products to the United States (US).
Director General of Capture Fisheries Lotharia Latif stated on Thursday that the CoA document is essential. Without this certificate, Indonesian swimming crab products –locally known as rajungan– cannot be accepted in export destination countries that apply the provisions of the US Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA).
The CoA ensures that the swimming crabs are caught using environmentally friendly fishing traps that do not threaten marine mammals.
“This proves that these requirements have become mandatory for business owners to comply with in utilizing the swimming crab commodity, which has high economic value,” said Latif.
He noted that the ministry’s move demonstrates government efforts to encourage small-scale fishermen to produce fishery products that meet global export standards.
“Furthermore, this serves as a form of transparency and supports business actors so that Indonesian fishery products remain competitive. All of this aims to improve the welfare of Indonesian fishermen,” he added.
The ministry previously issued technical instructions for the CoA in November 2025.
Following those guidelines, the ministry, in collaboration with the Indonesian Crab Fisheries Association (APRI), and related stakeholders, conducted outreach at 17 fishing ports to ensure fishermen adhere to good, correct, and environmentally friendly governance.
Chairman of the Indonesian Crab Management Association, Kuncoro Catur Nugroho, said the association continues to guide fishermen to ensure they comply with CoA provisions.
“Over the past two months, we have been intensively collecting data, conducting outreach, and registering swimming crab fishing vessels. We have also provided environmentally friendly fishing gear, including traps,” he said.
Nugroho stated that APRI has distributed 10,000 collapsible traps to seven locations: Rembang, Pamekasan, Gresik, Lamongan, Cirebon, Pasuruan, and Bekasi. Another distribution in Lampung is scheduled for January 2026.
