KOTA KINABALU: Ninety artificial reefs were deployed in waters off Papar, expected to enhance marine resources in the area and benefit local fishing communities.
The artificial reef units have now been installed in waters off several coastal villages, including Kampung Kuala, Kampung Pengalat Besar and Kampung Beringgis.
The reefs, with different designs to provide breeding grounds for marine life, especially to support fish, squid and lobster populations, were officially deployed on Wednesday (Sept 23).
“We expect to improve fishing yields and generate better income opportunities for fishermen in Papar and surrounding areas,” said Papar MP Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali, who is the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Minister, in a Facebook post.
Although unable to attend the Fish Aggregating Device Deployment Programme in Papar due to official duties in Putrajaya, the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Minister thanked the federal government for implementing the project.
He said he had written to the Agriculture and Food Security Ministry on Jan 21, 2026, to seek funds for the project's implementation.
Armizan said the project was among matters he had consistently pursued with the ministry as well as the Malaysian Fisheries Development Authority (LKIM) and the Sabah Fisheries Department.
With the implementation, Armizan, who was represented by his confidential secretary Datuk Roslie Ibrahim at the deployment, was confident it would improve income opportunities for fishermen in Papar and surrounding areas.
According to the Sabah Fisheries Department, the last artificial reef project in Papar waters was carried out in 2010 and involved only 18 reef units serving fishermen from five villages.
Armizan said that after more than 15 years, many of the existing structures may have sunk, become buried or no longer function effectively.
“I thank LKIM for supporting the initiative. I hope it will contribute to the long-term sustainability of Sabah's marine resources while benefiting local fishing communities,” he added.
