SEMPORNA: The State Government will continue to strengthen the fisheries and seaweed sectors in Semporna to help raise the income of local communities.
State Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Industry Minister Datuk Jamawi Jaafar said Semporna’s vast marine resources, including tuna with export potential, should be fully developed through more systematic fish landing and packaging facilities.
“Semporna has massive marine treasures, including tuna that has export potential. However, it still needs landing and packaging facilities,” he said in his speech at the Semporna Kaamatan Festival celebration.
According to Jamawi, a proposal to build a fish landing jetty is currently being refined together with the Malaysian Fisheries Development Authority (LKIM) and the Ministry of Economy to enable local seafood products to be marketed at higher value.
Jamawi, who is also Melalap Assemblyman, said his Ministry had identified two strategic sites in the district suitable for development as fish landing centres.
He also highlighted the growing importance of the seaweed industry, which continues to receive encouraging demand from international markets.
Advertisement
“Seaweed products from Semporna have reached markets in the United States, Europe and Japan,” he said.
Jamawi encouraged more people to venture into the industry, assuring them of government support, including infrastructure assistance, such as drying platforms and protective fencing systems.
He also stressed the importance of preserving the marine ecosystem, particularly turtles that remain one of Semporna’s tourism attractions.
“Special fencing systems are being introduced to ensure seaweed farming activities could develop alongside marine conservation efforts in a balanced manner,” he said.
Jamawi also said his Ministry would continue to expand agricultural activities involving bananas, pandan coconuts, mangoes and cassava to meet the growing demand from the district’s tourism sector.
He said the arrival of up to 2,000 tourists daily created wider opportunities for local farmers, breeders and fishermen to supply fresh produce and seafood products.
He urged local communities to seize the opportunity by ensuring Semporna’s agricultural and fisheries products remained the preferred choice in the market.
Prior to the festival, Jamawi visited Bum Bum Island to inspect proposed upgrades to fisheries facilities and related projects under his Ministry.
On the Kaamatan celebration, he said the festival is not only a symbol of agricultural harvests but also could reflect the “harvest of the sea” for the people of Semporna.
Caption: Jamawi officiating the Semporna Kaamatan Festival.
