This meant that Sabah has a wide potential of being the country's aquaculture hub, as recognised by the Malaysian Fisheries Department, said Agriculture and Food Industries Minister Datuk Abdul Rahim Ismail, on Monday.
The aquaculture products are derived from high quality species with a competitive edge in the global market.
Rahim said this while opening a two-day Fresh Water Aquaculture Workshop at Tuaran Beach Resort, in an address delivered by his Assistant Minister Datuk Japlin Akim.
Marine fish may top the billing with 30,700 metric tonnes valued at RM1.23 billion, followed by sea prawns with 33,000 metric tonnes worth RM1.06 billion, fresh water fish at 12,500 metric tonnes (RM125 million), shells and assorted vertebra species at 6,000 metric tonnes (RM28 million).
He also pointed out that seaweed products harvested at 125,000 metric tonnes could fetch RM24 million by 2010.
To date, the Ministry had identified 63,342 hectares on land and sea that have high potential of being developed as Aquaculture Industrial Zone (AIZ), other than 30,000 hectares that already had been prepared.
RM2.5 billion from aquaculture output by 2010
MALAYSIA - Sabah may expect to generate an income of RM2.5 billion from 207,200 metric tonnes of aquaculture output by the year 2010.
