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TUARAN: The Sabah Government has launched the Cockle Resource and Industry Development Project, expected to generate RM34.4 million annually with an estimated landing of 3,240 metric tonnes and a 7.6-times return on investment.

Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor said the project would boost downstream export activities including cockle canning, sambal kerang, and seafood-based products, creating new income avenues for Sabah.

The initiative is part of Sabah’s Blue Economy strategy and involves a two-phase collaboration between Sedia, the Malaysia Fisheries Department and the Sabah Fisheries Department.

Phase one, completed between October 2024 and May this year, mapped out six pilot locations, while phase two in 2026 will focus on technology transfer and field implementation across 77 aquaculture lots.

Hajiji said the project aims to benefit 770 households in Tuaran and Beluran, offering monthly incomes of up to RM6,500, while positioning Sabah as a regional hub for Blue Seafood and modern marine entrepreneurship.