APINDO East Java: U.S. Ban on Indonesian Shrimp Puts Fisheries Sector on the Brink of Collapse
Tuesday, 14 October 2025
East Java – The United States’ recent ban on Indonesian shrimp imports has sparked deep concern among domestic fisheries business players. The policy is feared to cause massive losses and threaten the livelihoods of millions of workers.
The ban came after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reportedly detected cesium-137 (Cs-137)—a radioactive compound hazardous to food—in 18 containers of shrimp exported from Indonesia. As a result, all containers were recalled, and U.S. authorities immediately suspended shrimp imports from Indonesia.
Chairman of the Indonesian Employers’ Association (Apindo) East Java, Eddy Widjanarko, expressed surprise over the discovery of radioactive material. He said the core issue lies not only in the findings themselves but also in differing food safety standards between countries.
“The government needs to review and comply with the standards set by importing countries, especially when it comes to food exports. This should serve as an important lesson for policymakers,” Eddy said on Tuesday evening (October 14, 2025).
Eddy warned that the U.S.’s unilateral decision could trigger a domino effect across other fisheries commodities, such as tuna. Indonesia’s shrimp exports heavily rely on the U.S. market. According to data from the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries, shrimp exports in 2024 reached USD 2 billion, with the U.S. accounting for 63–64 percent or about USD 1.4 billion.
Beyond the 18 recalled containers, the government is now facing a serious dilemma — whether to sell the contaminated shrimp domestically or re-export them to other countries.
However, both options carry significant risks.
“If destroyed, the losses for producers will be enormous. But if re-exported, other countries are already aware of the issue and are starting to refuse. Some nations have questioned Indonesia’s re-export intentions. Finding new markets is not easy,” Eddy explained.
Meanwhile, around 439 containers—equivalent to 900 tons of shrimp—currently en route to the U.S. have been ordered to “return home.”
Since the ban took effect, shrimp exports to the U.S. have been halted for more than ten days. Normally, about 50 containers are shipped weekly to the United States.
This situation has left entrepreneurs and shrimp farmers anxious.
“If exports to the U.S. remain suspended, around one million workers could lose their jobs,” Eddy warned.
He added that Indonesia also risks losing up to USD 1.7 billion, or approximately Rp 29 trillion, in export revenues from shrimp alone.
Source: jatimkini.com
