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PUTRAJAYA: Malaysia’s total fish landings rose to 1.39 million metric tonnes last year, up from 1.27 million metric tonnes in 2023, reflecting the continued recovery of the national fisheries sector and helping to ensure sustainable seafood supplies.
Fisheries Department director-general Datuk Adnan Hussain said Perak remained the highest contributor with 434,349 metric tonnes, followed by Sabah (201,812 metric tonnes), Selangor (163,732 metric tonnes) and Pahang (144,651 metric tonnes).
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Although Kelantan (58,115 metric tonnes) and Terengganu (39,657 metric tonnes) recorded slight decreases compared to 2023, the figures remained higher than in 2022, reflecting the resilience of the east coast fisheries sector, he added.
Meanwhile, Selangor and Penang continued to post consistent increases throughout the recovery period.
Adnan said the achievement was supported by the resource conservation programme under the 12th Malaysia Plan (2021-2025), which included the placement of 1,174 artificial reef units with an allocation of RM20mil, which has had a positive impact on the marine ecosystem, fish landings, and the preservation of marine biodiversity.
"The positive impact is evident in the increase of the country’s Fisheries Self-Sufficiency Rate (SSR) to 91.6% in 2024, while the SSR for 15 major species also rose from 91.9% to 93.3%,” he said in a statement on Wednesday (Sept 24).
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He said among the species that recorded significant growth were ikan bawal (pomfret), ikan merah (red snapper) and ikan kembung (chub mackerel).
"This development shows that domestic landing has not only recovered in terms of volume but is also strengthening in high-value species that are in strong demand among consumers,” he said.
Adnan added that the achievement was the outcome of a science-based resource management strategy, coupled with the active involvement of the fishing community, the implementation of artificial reef programmes, fish stock assessments and the development of modern landing infrastructure.
He said the 2024 performance proved that Malaysia’s fisheries sector is on a positive trajectory, with higher landings, improved SSR and continued strong contributions from key states.
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He added that the department will continue implementing sustainable measures to ensure the country’s fish supply remains sufficient, of good quality and is competitive.
In line with this, Adnan said the department together with the Marine Fishery Resources Development and Management Department, conducted a study to assess pelagic fisheries resources along the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia from Sept 9 to 19.
"This study, supported by the Japanese Trust Fund through the South-East Asia Fisheries Development Centre, is expected to provide crucial scientific input for the country’s future fish stock management strategy,” he said. – Bernama
