Sabah to restrict sale, export of local lobsters

Minister Junz Wong says a new policy is needed to ensure a continuous supply of lobsters in the state.

Minister Junz Wong says Sabah’s lobster conservation efforts are under threat. (Facebook pic)

KOTA KINABALU: Agriculture and Food Industry Minister Junz Wong has warned that the indiscriminate catching of wild lobsters in Sabah could harm the state government’s efforts to conserve the species.

Speaking to FMT, he said while lobster farms in the state were beginning to bear fruit, he was concerned about the fate of Sabah’s wild lobsters.

“The catching of wild lobsters as well as wild crabs is rampant. This is terrible for Sabah’s lobster conservation efforts. People are catching lobsters of all sizes – even finger-sized lobsters are not spared.

“This will hamper the ecosystem and the reproduction rate of local wild lobsters,” he said.

Wong said much of the poaching took place in areas between Semporna and Tawau, and two other spots between Lahad Datu and Sandakan in Sabah’s east coast.

He said the ministry would study the existing policies relating to wild and farmed lobsters and wild crabs to put into place a proper mechanism to protect the species.

“Those who catch wild lobsters and wild crabs must be monitored or else we will have no more wild lobsters one day,” he said.

He said the ministry would also look into policies of restricting the sale of lobsters in restaurants and for export purposes.

“Only lobsters above 500g can be sold or exported. I believe this restriction will go a long way in ensuring a continuous supply of lobsters in the state.”

Two years ago, in a drastic measure to stop the flow of fresh seafood out of Sabah, then-agriculture and food industry minister Yahya Hussin decided to ban all exports of fresh seafood, allowing only frozen seafood to leave the state.

The ban was to address the local shortage of fresh seafood as most had been exported to cater to demand from countries such as Hong Kong and China. -FMT