The Malaysian Fisheries Development Authority (LKIM) has urged the government to implement stricter controls on shrimp and other fishery product imports to safeguard the local market and support the sustainability of domestic aquaculture operators.
LKIM chairman Muhammad Faiz Fadzil explained that the authority currently does not have specific powers to regulate fishery imports and exports but plans to raise the matter with higher authorities to establish a structured control mechanism.
“Unregulated shrimp imports can negatively impact local production, especially farms under LKIM supervision. While there are no existing rules to curb such imports, proactive government measures are needed to collectively manage the situation,” he said after inspecting a tank shrimp farming project run by the Johor State Fishermen Association (JOSFA) in Kampung Sungai Danga.
He added that this approach should cover all fishery products to prevent local operators from being affected by a surplus of imported goods. Muhammad Faiz also noted that effective import and export controls require coordination among multiple agencies, as LKIM is not the primary body overseeing international fishery trade.
The authority is encouraging fishermen’s associations to participate in aquaculture by offering financial and technical support while optimising existing resources. This aligns with the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security’s goal of achieving 40% of national fish production from aquaculture by 2030.
“If associations do not take advantage of these opportunities, private companies could dominate the sector. We aim for a structured system that includes private players but ensures oversupply and price instability are avoided,” he said.
LKIM recorded aquaculture production of 1,495 metric tonnes valued at RM37.77 million in 2023 and 1,200 metric tonnes worth RM23.67 million in 2024.
JOSFA general manager Abdul Fatah Alkhairi Mustapa revealed that the tank shrimp farming project cost RM1.2 million to develop, starting on March 1, 2025, with shrimp fry introduced on September 8, 2025. As of January, the farm had harvested 20 tonnes of shrimp, generating RM500,000 in sales, highlighting aquaculture’s potential as a sustainable income source for local fishermen.
