Sabah Poised to Lead as a Key Regional Deep-Sea Fisheries Hub

30 July 2025

KOTA KINABALU: Sabah is on the right track to become the region’s premier Deep-Sea Fisheries Hub, thanks to its strategic advantages, as it is not only situated along the international tuna migration route but also possesses sheltered natural ports close to major producing countries such as Indonesia, the Philippines, and Papua New Guinea.

Chief Minister, Datuk Seri Panglima Hajiji Noor said that the state has all the prerequisites, in terms of location, resources, infrastructure, and policy support, to position Sabah as an international-standard landing, processing, and export centre for deep-sea seafood.

He made these remarks during the signing ceremony of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Kota Kinabalu City Hall (DBKK) and Petco Trading Labuan Company Ltd, as well as a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) between DBKK and Alpha Ocean Resources Berhad (AORB), held at Pacific Sutera Harbour on Wednesday.

He added that under the MoA, AORB will invest RM360 million to develop a European Union (EU) standard port dedicated to tuna and deep-sea seafood landing in Kota Kinabalu. The project is expected to be completed within 18 months and will create over 1,000 employment opportunities across the industry’s value chain.

“This port will adhere to strict EU standards, including Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP), traceability systems, monitoring of Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing, and comprehensive food safety measures. With this facility, we can access premium export markets that have been limited due to the lack of suitable infrastructure,” Hajiji asserted.

He also highlighted that Malaysia’s participation in the Western & Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) will enable this new port to become a recognised landing site for registered fishing vessels from around the world.

With an estimated 1,000 vessels annually, each carrying an average of 50 tonnes of catch, Sabah has the potential to land 50,000 tonnes of tuna each year, generating an economic value of up to RM1.8 billion.

He explained that the economic benefits go beyond just the catch value, extending to supporting sectors such as ice supply, bunkering services, food & beverage, and technical services.

At the same time, Hajiji reaffirmed that the development of this industry would not neglect the welfare of local fishermen. An inclusive development model will ensure the involvement of coastal fishermen in value-added downstream components.

“We will continue to emphasise sustainable governance based on Environmental, Social & Governance (ESG) principles, protecting the environment, community welfare, and sound governance, to sustain our marine ecosystems and the economic well-being of our people,” he said.

During the same event, DBKK also signed an MoU with Petco Trading Labuan Company Ltd to develop a biogas energy complex at the Kayu Madang waste disposal site. The project aims to convert methane gas from solid waste into 2 Megawatts of green electricity.

“This energy will directly benefit the manufacturing sector in Kota Kinabalu Industrial Park (KKIP). It’s a prime example of a circular economy — turning waste from one sector into energy for another,” he explained.

Hajiji added that both initiatives align with Sabah’s Blue Economy agenda, emphasising sustainable development, added value in the fisheries industry, and transitioning to clean energy.

“The success in attracting these investments demonstrates investors’ strong confidence in Sabah’s economic prospects. I believe the synergy between DBKK, the private sector, and the state government will accelerate economic growth and generate more job opportunities for our people,” he said.

He also expressed appreciation to DBKK for its ongoing efforts to develop the city, as well as to the companies involved for choosing Sabah as their strategic investment destination.