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LABUAN: The total number of tuna fishing licenses issued by the Fisheries Department here has increased from 22 to 37 this year, according to Labuan MP Datuk Rozman Isli.

Rozman disclosed that the increase in licenses is imperative as the local tuna industry has grown rapidly over the past few years and the demand for tuna-based products which are locally manufactured has increased.

He added that Labuan waters has potentially become one of the hot spots for tuna fishing with high-valued catches.

“I understand that the west coast of Sabah, including Labuan, has great potential when it comes to tuna fishing and has produced high-valued catches over the years,” he said.

Rozman shared that to date, Labuan which has become a hub for tuna fish landings, has only explored 20 per cent of tuna within surrounding waters, here.

However, he is optimistic that with the increase in tuna fishing licenses issued, the high demand for the fish in Labuan and its surrounding region will be met. 

It was also disclosed that the duty-free island currently produces 20 metric tonnes of oceanic tuna per month.

Rozman spoke at a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) ceremony inked between Zambayu Enterprise (Dr Tuna) with Labuan sole tuna burger enterprise (Latuna) and Labuan tuna satay supplier of Island Tuna (Millennium General Contractor).

The MoU agreed to appoint Zambayu Enterprise as the sole supplier of Labuan tuna burger patties and satay products across Malaysia, except Labuan.

The signing of the MoU between the three parties was witnessed by Rozman at the Fisheries Department, on Saturday.

In the ceremony, Bakti Property had agreed to provide 20,000 tuna burger patties worth RM120,000 each month (total of RM1.44 million per year) to be exported across Malaysia by Zambayu Enterprise.

While Millennium General Contractor (Island Tuna) agreed to produce 250,000 sticks of tuna satay worth RM625,000 per month (RM7.5 million per year) to be distributed across the country.

The total value of the one-year agreement is RM8.94 million.

Rozman said the MoU inked between the two local businesses and Zambayu Enterprise will also bring about a great positive effect to all the players and locals involved in the tuna industry,here.

“It will also provide more job opportunities to the locals, especially the youth, in this particular field,” he added.