A yellowfin tuna fishery improvement project was recently launched in Semporna, Malaysia, to sustain its harvest in the district.
The district produces more than 40 per cent of total yellowfin tuna landings in the state.
A significant number of fishermen using fishing rods, particularly from Mabul Island, are major contributors to the yellowfin tuna fishery industry.
Senallang Community Development leader Adam Shah Mohammad said the project would ensure the sustainability of the yellowfin tuna fisheries and benefit the economy along the supply chain.
He said this would ensure lucrative income for the fishermen. “Semporna has a vast sea area and is an important tourism destination.
“As a crucial resource for tourism, the development of a sustainable fishing industry, such as through this project, is a good first step towards promoting unique and sustainable seafood,” he said in a statement.
Located within the Semporna Priority Conservation Area, the project is part of the Marine Spatial Planning initiative, which is implemented in countries like Indonesia, Thailand, the Philippines, Mexico, and the United States.
It is one of 225 fishery improvement projects worldwide, and the second in Malaysia after Tun Mustapha Park, Kudat, launched in 2019.
The Semporna project is governed by 10 stakeholder groups comprising government agencies, research institutes, non-governmental organisations and communities of Mabul Island.