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| Panulirus species (spiny lobsters) also known locally as King lobster |
During the third day of State Assembly question and answer session, the
State Assemblyman for Kunak, Nilwan Kabang asked the Chief Minister on
the progress of the proposed lobster farming project in Pulau Timbun
Mata in Kunak District, a joint undertaking between Inno Fisheries, a
subsidiary company of Yayasan Sabah, and Aquafarm Inc from America.
According to project sources the proposed joint venture involves an
investment of RM 2 billion and is expected to generate 20,000 jobs. In
reply the Chief Minister confirmed that the project will be carried out
on a 9,300 hectare coastal area in Pulau Timbun Mata, Semporna. He said
the State Cabinet approved the land for the project in March 2012. He
said the lobster farm would require some 6000 hectares to accommodate
the 18000 or so lobster cages plus additional area for related onshore
and offshore facilities.
To be carried out by Integrated Lobsters Aquaculture Park (ILAP) in
joint venture between Inno Fisheries SDN BHD and Aquafarm Inc from
America the project includes lobster aquaculture for commercial
production, research and development, contract farming and training as
well as mussels farming as the food source for the lobsters.
The Chief Minister further explained that the inclusion of contract
farming was to allow , the local fishermen as well as small and
medium-sized companies to do business with ILAP. In this way, local
aquaculture farmers and companies who join the program would gain access
to the technology and support system for lobster farming and marketing.
Musa further disclosed that the West Coast area is found to be the
most suitable area for the production of lobster seeds. He said an
application for funding has been submitted for consideration under
National Key Economic Areas (NKEA) for agriculture.
Source: InsightSabah
