KUALA NERUS: The country’s fish output is expected to decline slightly towards the end of the year following a sharp increase in diesel costs linked to the global energy crisis.
Director-general of Fisheries Datuk Adnan Hussain said rising operating costs had forced some operators of deep-sea fishing vessels in Zone C2 to reduce their operations.
Adnan said the vessels under this zone, which operate in waters more than 30 nautical miles from the coast, would temporarily suspend fishing activities as they could no longer absorb the higher fuel expenses.
“Zone C2 vessels do not receive subsidies unlike fishermen in Zones A, B and C, causing some vessels to be unable to operate due to the sharp increase in fuel prices at present.
“Thus, we expect that there may be a slight decline in fish output by the end of the year as these Zone C2 vessels are not operating,” he said.
Speaking to reporters after the World Oceans Day 2026 celebration at Redang Island Marine Park here yesterday, he said fish landing data showed that C2 vessels’ catches last March stood at 13,300 metric tonnes compared with 16,200 metric tonnes in the same period last year.
“Fish landings stood at about 18,000 metric tonnes in April, down from 21,000 metric tonnes in the same month last year – a reduction of nearly 4,000 metric tonnes,” he said.
He added, however, that the decline in output is not expected to affect the country’s overall fish supply as it could be offset by production from vessels operating in Zones A, B and C, as well as the aquaculture subsector.
“Although fish supply is expected to reduce slightly by year-end, it will remain stable and sufficient to meet domestic demand,” Adnan said, as the production from the capture fisheries sector continues to average between 1.2 million and 1.4 million metric tonnes annually.
He also said the situation had been felt since March following rising diesel prices in global and domestic markets due to geopolitical uncertainties in Middle East, including disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz.
