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Total catch of marine fish from Malaysian waters in 2020 were 1.38 million mt, a slight decreased 5.48% compared to 1.46 million in 2019. The total landing in 2020 were attributed to the catch from 48,826 registered vessels with trawlers, purse seines, drift nets contributed large percentage of the catches. In 2020, marine fish production from the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia (Malacca Straits) contributed 777,365 mt (56.20%) out of the total catch. The remaining catches were from the South China Sea and Sulu Celebes Seas, east coast of Sabah. Coastal fisheries produced 84% (1,169,200 mt) and 16% (214,098 mt) from deep-sea fisheries.
Therefore, there is an emphasis by the government to develop tuna fisheries not only in coastal waters, but also in offshore waters within the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). Tuna fisheries, which include both oceanic and neritic tuna, are targeted to be developed in the near future. The second Strategic Development Plan for Tuna Industries 2012-2020 was launched end of 2013. Draft of the third Strategic Development Plan for Tuna Industries 2021-2030 are being developed.
During the early 1980s, small tuna (as neritic tuna were called then) were only caught as by-catch by gill nets and purse seines. When tuna purse seines were introduced in 1987, the neritic tuna fisheries started to develop. A tagging experiment on neritic tuna carried out in South China Sea showed that 50% of the recaptured tuna came from the purse seine operators. Initially purse seine operators visually searched for tuna schools. Gradually, some of these operators started to use lights to aggregate fish. Following complaints from other fishermen, the use of lights was regulated and limited to less than 30 kilowatts.
Neritic tuna contributes 76,396.27 MT (5.54%) of Malaysia’s marine fish landings in 2020. Purse seiners are the most important fishing gear in neritic tuna fisheries, especially the 40-69.9 GRT (Zon C) and >70 GRT (Zon C2) vessel size, with longtail tuna dominated the landings followed by kawa kawa and frigate tuna. In the year 2020, neritic tuna landings in west coast Peninsular Malaysia amounted to 12,633.13 mt; decreasing by 27.81% compared to 17,500 mt in 2019. Meanwhile landings of neritic tuna in Malaysia ranged from 60,000 mt to 80,000 mt (2016-2020). The highest catch was recorded in 2019 with 87,400 mt respectively. There was a decreasing trend in landings from 2002 to 2005 before an increasing trend until 2008. Landings of neritic tuna in Malaysia appear to have stabilized from 2010 to 2018.
The catch of oceanic tuna in 2020 from the Indian Ocean showed a 6.43% increased from 2,289.30 mt in 2019 to 2446.73 mt in 2020. Albacore showed an increasing of 11.13% from 1,618.65 mt in 2019 to 1821.41 mt in 2020. Albacore tuna formed nearly 75% of the total catches in the form of whole frozen tuna meanwhile, Yellowfin contributed 15.3% and Bigeye 10.25% of total catches in frozen and gutted forms.
The revised NPOA- Sharks II is published in 2014 and sharks and endangered species listed in the CITES also listed in Malaysia CITES Act 2008. On sea turtle, four (4) turtle conservation and information centres have regularly.
implementing awareness program for student and fishermen communities in the states of N.Sembilan, Perak, Penang and Melaka. Hatching program at these centers managed to release over 65,000 baby turtles back to the sea. There are several research programs on sea turtle been carried out at different areas in Malaysian waters and the ongoing projects are c-hook and satellite tracking.
Malaysia have updated the national logbook to include all the species as requested in Resolution 19/04 for longliners and purse seiners, and monitor tuna landing and inspection at port by Port Inspector. DOF Malaysia also monitoring and tracking the deep-sea and tuna vessels using National VMS.
Under resolution 19/06, Malaysia longliners transhipped at sea monitor by the IOTC observer under ROP. Malaysia participated in the Regional Observer Program in 2018 for carrier vessel and fishing vessel to monitor transhipment at sea. DOF Malaysia also have installed CCTV on every vessel as a tool for EMS as an alternative for observer on board.
