Kuala Lumpur: The National Fishermen's Association (Nekmat) plans to ship at least 12 tonnes of fish from Sabah to Peninsular Malaysia via sea freight within the next one to two months.
General Manager Azrin Shah Ismail said the first shipment will be carried out once suppliers have gathered sufficient stock and finalised pricing.
"Suppliers are now collecting the fish. Once 12 metric tonnes are accumulated, they will submit their pricing and within a month or two we will bring in the first shipment," he told Bernama at the Malaysia Agriculture, Horticulture and Agrotourism Exhibition (Maha) 2026 here today.
He said the species include selayang (short-bodied mackerel) and kembung (Indian mackerel), which enjoy widespread demand among consumers.
Azrin Shah added that Nekmat previously conducted five trial shipments via air freight in April and early May this year, involving 1.2 tonnes of fish valued at approximately RM25,000.
However, he said the overall logistics cost from the landing point in Sabah to Nekmat's logistics hub in Taman Wahyu amounts to about RM8 per kilogramme, nearly 40 per cent of the purchase price and is still considered high.
"We are still studying its potential. This project cannot yet be declared successful in lowering fish prices because the data has not proven it, but in terms of economic viability, the opportunity exists," he said.
Azrin Shah said fish shipments from Sabah need to be regular, depending on supply, as catch volumes are also influenced by the monsoon season and local demand.
According to him, sea freight is expected to be more suitable for everyday fish varieties, while air freight can be reserved for high-value species.
Last month, the media reported that the Malaysian Fisheries Development Board (LKIM) wants a joint venture between Nekmat and the Sabah State Fishermen's Association (Pengasah) to export fish from the state to Peninsular Malaysia.
LKIM chairman Muhammad Faiz Fadzil said that Sabah is rich in fish resources and that these should be shared with the Peninsula.
