INAUGURAL LABUAN TUNA CONFERENCE MILESTONE FOR MALAYSIA’S GROWING TUNA INDUSTRY

LABUAN, Oct 13 (Bernama) -- The inaugural Labuan Tuna Conference 2025 marked a milestone for Labuan, aligning with the rapid growth of the local tuna industry and Malaysia’s aspirations to become a regional tuna hub.

Organised by the Department of Fisheries Malaysia (DoF) in collaboration with Labuan Corporation, the two-day conference from Oct 13-14 held at the Financial Park Convention Hall was officiated by Deputy Agriculture and Food Security Minister Datuk Sri Arthur Joseph Kurup.

The event brought together 140 participants, including representatives from government agencies, industry players, researchers, and the local fishing community. 

Five key papers were presented at the conference, covering topics such as strategic tuna hub development, management of high-value resources, quality improvement of tuna catches, investment opportunities in food processing, and government-industry collaboration.

In his address, Arthur described the conference as a vital platform to strengthen ties between the government, industry, and academia to enhance Malaysia’s tuna value chain. 

He announced an allocation of RM220,000 under the 12th Malaysia Plan to support post-harvest quality enhancement and value-added initiatives in Labuan’s tuna sector, including the provision of tuna payao development equipment and fish product processing facilities to empower local entrepreneurs in producing high-value products.

Arthur noted Malaysia’s tuna industry continues to show strong progress, with total landings of oceanic, neritic, and tuna-like species reaching 88,725 tonnes valued at approximately RM890 million in 2024. 

“Sabah remained the leading contributor, recording about 22,995 tonnes worth nearly RM177 million, while Labuan recorded 1,296 tonnes valued at nearly RM12 million,” he stated.

Arthur highlighted that the strategic locations of Sabah and Labuan along the Sulu Sea and South China Sea are pivotal in positioning Malaysia as a regional tuna hub.

He also urged industry players to continue product innovation and adhere to international standards such as Halal, Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP), and Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) to boost the global competitiveness of Malaysian tuna products, in line with the National Agrofood Policy 2.0 (NAP 2.0) and national food security goals.

Meanwhile, DoF director-general Datuk Adnan Hussain said the conference serves as a key platform to strengthen synergy between policy and implementation as part of efforts to accelerate the transformation of the national tuna industry.

He said the Tuna Industry Development Strategic Plan 2021–2030 serves as the guiding framework for sustainable and competitive sectoral growth, focusing on six core areas: compliance with domestic and international standards; development of sustainable vessel specifications and quotas; adoption of modern tuna fishing technologies; strengthening industry governance and integrity; improving enforcement capacity; and enhancing post-harvest quality and value-added product output for export markets.

Adnan said the tuna industry goes beyond capture operations, encompassing the entire value chain, from landings, research, and logistics to processing and marketing. 

He noted that Labuan and Sabah hold immense potential to drive the establishment of a National Tuna Hub through strategic investment, modern facility development, and cross-sector collaboration.

He called on all conference participants to contribute ideas and perspectives to shape a sustainable, innovative, and high-impact tuna industry ecosystem, in line with the Malaysia MADANI vision and the government’s commitment to ensuring that ‘Food Security is a Shared Responsibility’.

-- BERNAMA