Answer for Written Question PT019

QUESTION

Yang Berhormat Awang Zainol bin Haji Mohamed

YANG BERHORMAT AWANG ZAINOL BIN HAJI MOHAMED requested MENTERI SUMBER-SUMBER UTAMA DAN PELANCONGAN to state the factors identified as contributing to the downward trend in the performance of the fisheries industry from BND3.87 million (in 2023) to BND2.83 million (in 2024), and the plans to address this performance gap.

ANSWER

Yang Berhormat Menteri Sumber-Sumber Utama dan Pelancongan

Firstly, the Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism would like to clarify the overall performance of the fisheries sector.

Based on the records of this Ministry, the overall performance of the fisheries sector in 2022 amounted to $211.21 million, in 2023 it amounted to $166.57 million, and in 2024 it amounted to $161.60 million. Specifically, this downward trend can be seen through the differences in annual performance, namely a decrease of $44.64 million in 2023 compared to the performance in 2022, and a decrease of $4.96 million in 2024 compared to the performance in 2023.

The Ministry would also like to explain that the decline in the performance of the fisheries industry mentioned is closely related to specific challenges faced in the aquaculture sector, particularly in the shrimp farming industry, and is not due to an overall decline in the country’s fisheries sector.

This situation resulted from shrimp disease issues that were first detected in 2023 at several major farms. This situation affected the shrimp growth rate and led to an increase in the mortality rate of the stock, thereby affecting the supply of raw materials for the local fisheries products processing industry.

To address this challenge and narrow the performance gap, the Ministry, through the Department of Fisheries, has implemented several strategic measures.

These include strengthening biosecurity and disease control measures for fish and shrimp farming at the farm level. In addition, the Department of Fisheries has also implemented the Pelan Pemulihan Industri Ternakan Udang (Shrimp Recovery Programme), which focuses on reducing disease rates, increasing productivity and strengthening the production capacity of local shrimp farms.

In addition, control measures concerning the sources of shrimp seed supplies have also been strengthened through the assessment of imported seed suppliers, to ensure that only suppliers meeting biosecurity standards are included in the list of approved suppliers, thereby reducing the risk of diseases entering the country.

Through these measures, the shrimp farming industry can be gradually restored, thereby contributing to the recovery of the country’s fisheries industry performance.

It should also be highlighted that there was an increase of $15.91 million in 2025 compared to the performance in 2024, as follows:

Year	2022	2023	2024	2025
Output value ($ million)	$211.21	$166.57	$161.60	$177.51
Difference in output from the previous year	—	- $44.64	- $4.96	+ $15.91

This increase was contributed by all industries in the fisheries sector, particularly by:

• the fishing industry through the addition of the number of operating commercial vessels;
• the aquaculture industry through an increase in marine fish farming; and
• the processing industry through an increase in value-added products.

Based on this increase, the measures implemented have produced positive results. All initiatives undertaken will continue to be improved and enhanced to ensure that the challenges arising can be addressed efficiently and effectively.