SEMPORNA: Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Industry, Datuk Jamawi Jaafar, emphasised the State Government’s commitment to enhancing the fisheries and seaweed sectors in this district to boost local community income.
He stated that the vast potential of marine resources in Semporna must be fully utilised, including efforts to establish more systematic fish landing and packaging facilities.
“Semporna possesses a significant marine treasure, including tuna that has export potential, yet we still lack organized landing and packaging facilities,” he said when officiating the District-level Kaamatan Festival 2026 celebration here today.
Jamawi mentioned that the proposal for the construction of a fish landing jetty is being refined in collaboration with (LKIM) and the Ministry of Economy to ensure that local seafood can be marketed at a higher value.
He also noted that his ministry has identified two strategic sites in the district suitable for development as fish landing centers.
In addition to the fisheries sector, he also highlighted the development of the seaweed industry, which is increasingly in demand in the international market.
“Seaweed products from Semporna have penetrated markets in the United States, Europe, and Japan, but we still face a shortage of raw materials from local producers,” he said.
In this regard, he encouraged more residents to engage in this industry with the assurance of government support, including infrastructure assistance such as drying platforms and protective fencing.
Jamawi also stressed the importance of preserving the marine ecosystem, particularly the turtles that attract tourists to Semporna.
“We do not want seaweed farming activities to disrupt turtle habitats. That is why we have provided a special fencing system to ensure that both sectors can develop in balance,” he said.
