Narrator: This lobster is so valuable
that people try to smuggle its larvae
across international waters.
The ornate tropical rock lobster,
or the pearl lobster, as it's better known,
can cost nearly $100 a kilogram,
making it six times as expensive
as other popular varieties, like Maine lobsters.
The colorful crustacean is one of the rarest
and priciest lobsters you can find.
But what makes the pearl lobster so special?
And why exactly is it so expensive?
Pearl lobsters are found
throughout the Indian Ocean and west Pacific,
but the waters around Indonesia
are where their largest communities exist.
They're known for their blue-green shells,
rainbow-colored spots, and extra-long antennae.
Pearl lobsters are also meatier
and sweeter than other lobsters.
In Ekas Bay, Indonesia,
they're considered a popular delicacy
and sold for a hefty profit.
Narrator: Abdul Kasim has been fishing for lobsters
for 29 years.
Whenever it's not too windy,
he takes his boat to rocky locations
that could be home to pearl lobsters.
Narrator: The fishers leave their nets out overnight
and return in the morning.
They also catch sand lobsters,
but pearl lobsters are worth a lot more.
Narrator: Any lobsters that are large enough
to be sold are brought to a seller.
Due to government regulations,
pearl lobsters that weigh less than 200 grams
must be brought to a breeder.
Breeders like Murdim raise pearl lobsters in captivity.
This method ensures a more reliable supply of lobsters.
Narrator: But keeping them healthy is no easy feat.
The lobster larvae, or seeds, as they're called,
are placed in nets that float directly in the ocean,
exposed to natural elements.
Murdim takes his boat out to feed the lobsters every day.
It takes 18 months
to fully breed pearl-lobster seeds.
Narrator: The lobsters are also often attacked
by puffer fish and barracudas, who eat their legs.
If a lobster loses two legs from the same side,
it's considered defective and can't be sold.
Narrator: The surviving lobsters will grow from 50 grams
to the preferred selling weight of 500 grams.
To help protect their lobsters,
breeders check on the nets throughout the week
and repair any damage.
It's a lot of work, but it's worth it,
since pearl lobsters have become
one of the most valuable resources
at Indonesian fisheries.
To help strengthen the country's lobster-farming industry,
the Indonesian government
has banned the export of all lobster larvae.
This measure is also meant to protect
its wild lobster populations.
However, theft and international smuggling attempts
of Indonesia's lobster larvae have not stopped.
Back in autumn 2022, authorities caught smugglers
transporting $2.2 million worth of lobster larvae.
The Indonesian government estimates that the country lost
more than $64 million in revenue
to illegal exports in 2019.
The demand for Indonesian lobsters,
particularly pearl lobsters, is very high
in countries like Singapore, China, and Vietnam.
Pearl lobsters aren't even always available in Indonesia.
Narrator: Many restaurants and hotels
also buy pearl lobsters,
driving up the demand and prices.
The time of year impacts how expensive
a pearl lobster will be as well.
Lobsters are more expensive in January and February,
because of all the Chinese New Year celebrations.
Prices are also higher from August to September,
when international tourists come to visit.
During these months, captive pearl lobsters
sell for around $50 per kilogram,
and wild pearl lobsters can sell
for as much as $75 per kilogram.
Wild pearl lobsters are always more expensive
because they tend to be larger
than their captive counterparts.
They also weigh more,
even when they're the same size,
so there's more meat to enjoy.
Narrator: Despite the extravagant cost,
one of the most popular ways to eat pearl lobster
is grilling it at a local outdoor restaurant.
Narrator: But despite pearl lobster's popularity
in Indonesia and throughout Asia,
its price has actually fallen over the years.
And its fluctuating value is concerning
for the people whose livelihoods depend on it.