20/09/2025

SATURDAY | SEPT 20, 2025

6 Cockle farming lifeline for B40 fishermen

TUARAN: On the shores of Tuaran, where gentle waves kiss the beach, 46-year-old fisherman Sulaiman Amat still rises before dawn to seek bounty from the sea. But these days, the ocean feels less generous. “I first followed my father to the sea when I was 12. By the time I turned 20, I was already an inshore fisherman. “In the past, cockles, crabs and fish were all abundant. A single trip guaranteed more than RM100 in earnings. But now, it is hard.” Sulaiman, who supports a wife and three children aged eight, 13 and 15, is among Sabah’s B40 fishermen struggling with dwindling catches. Once famed for its marine richness, Tuaran, 34km north of Kota Kinabalu, now sees coastal fishermen forced further offshore with limited gear, sometimes enlisting their children to help during holidays. The decline of marine resources is not confined to Sabah. It is a global phenomenon that threatens fishing communities. Without sustainable methods, seafood stocks will shrink further, trapping traditional fishermen in poverty. Fisheries Department data shows national seafood landings falling from 1.38 million metric tonnes in 2020 to 1.27 million in 2023. Sabah’s figures fluctuated – 206,703 tonnes (2020), 216,319 (2021) and peaking at

o Sabah projects using induced spawning technology producing higher quality stocks in shorter time

Perak produced 1,202 metric tonnes of seeds in 2020, followed by 499 tonnes (RM11.5 million) in 2021 and 322 tonnes (RM3.7 million) in 2022. Inspired by this, Sabah has introduced pilot farms in Tuaran and Beluran with 12 and 65 lots respectively. When officiating at the Tuaran project in July, Hajiji said it was part of Sabah’s blue economy plan. Hashim added: “Each lot involves 10 participants. We expect fishermen to earn between RM3,000 and RM6,000 per month depending on output, far higher and more stable than current incomes.” The programme prioritises B40 families under eKasih, like Sulaiman’s. Participants are trained not only in cockle farming but also in business management to ensure resilience. “We want participants to treat cockle seeds as though they were gold lying on the seabed,” Hashim said. “This isn’t easy work. Like seaweed farming, it often means

230,171 (2022), before slipping to 212,787 tonnes (2024). Yet Sabah’s blue economy potential remains vast. Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor said its fisheries sector alone could generate 491,000 tonnes worth RM3.5 billion annually. To achieve this, the state has launched initiatives to ensure sustainability while lifting coastal communities like Sulaiman’s. Central to this is the Sabah Cockle Farm Project, which promotes aquaculture methods that reduce pressure on wild cockle stocks while creating stable income streams. Sabah Economic Development and Investment Authority (Sedia) chief executive Datuk Seri Hashim Paijan warned: “If cockles are left wild and harvested freely, their numbers will decline over time, affecting supply and threatening fishermen’s livelihoods. So, we combine expertise to produce high-quality cockle seeds, then farm them without depending on wild stocks.” Malaysia already has success stories. The Lekir Cockle Farm in

Hajiji (right) said the Tuaran initiative was part of Sabah’s blue economy plan. – BERNAMAPIC

were adjusting well. “When we know where cockles thrive, we can build farms that succeed.” Hadzley said natural cockles grow slowly as they stop feeding during low tide, but technology has overcome this limitation. “In Selangor, it usually takes 16 months to two years for seeds to reach 25mm. But by finding sites with constant water flow and food, we reduced the cycle to just six months,” Hadzley said. Using Induced Spawning and Cockle Farm Management technologies developed under the 12th Malaysian Plan, Sabah can now produce higher-quality seeds faster. Cockles reach market size in six months, while premium cockles of 33mm are ready in 10 months.

staying submerged for hours, faces burnt by the sun. But cockles don’t need additional feed, the main challenge is guarding against theft and threats like red tide.” Working with the Fisheries Department, Sedia has identified areas with clean water and natural conditions to maximise yields, Bernama reported. “Importing seeds from elsewhere doesn’t work,” said Pulau Sayak Fisheries Research Institute head of the Mollusc Unit Dr Hadzley Harith. “We searched for the best cockle seeds in Sabah, ones naturally adapt to local plankton and currents.” His team found them in Tawau and transported broodstock 10 hours to Tuaran, using careful handling to keep them alive. “Once we placed them in tanks, they opened and moved, signs they

Green transformation plan for Penang GEORGE TOWN: Roads around Lebuh Pantai, Pesara King Edward, Weld Quay and Gat Lebuh Chulia will undergo a 16-month transformation into climate-resilient, pedestrian friendly corridors under the Nature Based Climate Adaptation Programme for Urban Areas of Penang Island. State Local Government and Town and Country Planning Committee chairman H’ng Mooi Lye said the RM24.7 million project, funded by the Penang Island City Council and the World Bank Adaptation Fund, began on Sept 1 and is set for completion by Dec 31, 2026. “The main objective is to create tree-lined streets, connected canopies, pocket parks, green parking

sculpture, installed in 2005 near Lebuh Pantai, as it is not a heritage structure and has no significant value within the Unesco context. “This integrated project combines climate adaptation, mobility improvements, green infrastructure and heritage preservation, while safeguarding George Town’s identity,” he said. – Bernama

The project also emphasises preserving the Queen Victoria Memorial Clock Tower under the George Town Unesco World Heritage Site Special Area Plan. Surrounding areas will be restored and landscaped to balance greenery, heritage and public accessibility. H’ng added that the council agreed to remove the betel nut

areas and utilise vacant spaces, in line with greening Penang and strengthening resilience to climate change,” H’ng said after a site visit. A key element is converting Lebuh Pantai into a one-way street to ease congestion at its intersections while enabling wider pedestrian walkways, safer crossings and more attractive landscapes.