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KOTA KINABALU – Sabah sees a huge potential in the fisheries sector with the devolution of the deep-sea fishing authority from Putrajaya to the state.
Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Md Noor said investors are welcomed to tap into the deep-sea fishing and downstream industries now that the state is focused on fisheries products.
Sabah had obtained the authority on deep-sea fishing on December 3 last year via the aid of the Agriculture and Food Industries Minister Datuk Seri Ronald Kiandee.
It allows the state Fisheries Department to issue C2 licences that allows fishermen to fish up to 20 nautical miles from the shores.
“Sabah is among the main exporters of fresh fish in Malaysia, contributing RM2.03 billion or about 15.7% annually to the state’s gross domestic product.
“The state government is focusing on downstream processing for its capture fishery into high-quality products.
“With the federal empowerment on deep-sea fishing to the Sabah Fisheries Department, there is also huge potential for investors to venture into deep-sea fishing and related downstream industries,” he said during the launching of the Livestock, Aquaculture and Agriculture Exhibition held at the Sabah International Convention Centre here today.
Hajiji said the state has allocated RM561.81 million under the state budget this year to ensure productivity and quality in the local agricultural products.
He added that the agriculture sector included crops, livestock and fisheries as one of the main economic sectors in the state’s Sabah Maju Jaya five-year plan (2021-2025). – The Vibes, August 5, 2022