BEAUFORT: 12 June 2026 – The state government, through the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Industry (MAFFI), is strengthening Sabah’s aquaculture industry by providing shrimp fry, storage facilities and technical support to boost breeders’ productivity.
Minister Datuk Jamawi Jaafar said during a visit to a shrimp farming project in Kampung Bintuka, Beaufort, on Friday that the effort demonstrated the government’s commitment to helping local breeders develop the potentially lucrative shrimp business.
The 50-acre area is run by six breeders supplying fresh shrimp to markets in Kota Kinabalu and Brunei.
Jamawi said 500,000 shrimp fry would be provided for use in existing ponds in the area.
He added that his ministry would set up centralised cold storage and processing facilities for all breeders to share. The storage facility would allow breeders to maintain the quality of fresh shrimp for up to a month.
He also said the agriculture, fisheries and livestock sectors could generate high income if managed systematically and viably.
“One pond can produce up to 10 tonnes of shrimp, with a production value reaching about RM250,000 per pond,” he said.
The species farmed is the white shrimp (Penaeus vannamei), one of the most popular species in aquaculture with high demand in local and international markets.
Also present: Assistant Minister and Lumadan assemblyman Datuk Haji Ruslan; Sipitang MP Datuk Matbali Musah; Beaufort District Officer Mohd Nazri
