Sabah Fisheries in Numbers — Catch, Seaweed & Aquaculture (2025)
How big is Sabah's fishing industry?
Sabah landed 235,678 tonnes of marine fish in 2025, worth about RM1.55 billion at wholesale prices, according to the Sabah Fisheries Department. It also produced 212,003 tonnes of seaweed (wet weight), 8,173 tonnes from brackishwater farms and 1,600 tonnes from freshwater farms.
Marine landings have grown since a low of 159,773 tonnes in 2016, reaching a record in 2025. Wholesale value has risen faster than tonnage, from RM902 million in 2015 to RM1.55 billion in 2025.
Landings dipped to about 160,000 tonnes in 2016–2018, then climbed to a record 235,678 tonnes in 2025.
Source: Jabatan Perikanan Sabah, Table 1.2
Value rose from RM902 million in 2015 to RM1.55 billion in 2025.
Source: Jabatan Perikanan Sabah, Table 1.2
Where is the fish landed?
Kota Kinabalu is by far the largest landing district, with 85,568 tonnes worth RM628 million in 2025, about 36% of the state total. On the east coast, Semporna, Tawau and Lahad Datu together landed about 83,000 tonnes. Kudat's landings have fallen from 36,345 tonnes in 2022 to 16,136 tonnes in 2025.
Top eight of 16 districts. Kota Kinabalu alone lands more than a third of Sabah's catch.
Source: Jabatan Perikanan Sabah, Table 5.1.2
How much is farmed?
| Type | 2025 production | Wholesale value |
|---|---|---|
| Seaweed (wet weight) | 212,003 tonnes | RM63.6 million |
| Brackishwater culture | 8,173 tonnes | RM226.9 million |
| Freshwater culture | 1,600 tonnes | RM27.5 million |
Source: Jabatan Perikanan Sabah, Tables 14.1, 16.1 and 17.1. Seaweed is measured wet, so its tonnage is much larger than its value suggests.
Seaweed output has swung widely: 331,470 tonnes in 2012, down to 174,083 tonnes in 2018, back up to 307,943 tonnes in 2022 (its highest value, RM231 million), and 212,003 tonnes in 2025. Freshwater farming has shrunk from about 4,000 tonnes a year in 2012–2015 to 1,600 tonnes in 2025.
How much seafood does Sabah export?
In 2024 Sabah exported 74,921 tonnes of fishery commodities worth RM656 million, and imported 15,971 tonnes worth RM200 million. Export value peaked at RM1.09 billion in 2019 and has fallen each year since, even as tonnage rose again in 2024.
Source: Jabatan Perikanan Sabah, Table 15.1 (2008–2024).
What do the national plans say?
The 13th Malaysia Plan (2026–2030) says the tagal or tagang river-management system practised in Sabah and Sarawak will be expanded to Peninsular Malaysia to keep inland fisheries sustainable, and names Sabah among the potential states for a blue economy hub (13th Malaysia Plan, pp.2-20 and 2-21). The National Agrofood Policy sets a national self-sufficiency target of 98% for food fish by 2030 (NAP 2.0). Neither gives a Sabah fisheries figure. Status as of September 2026: we have not found a published Sabah fish self-sufficiency figure to compare with the 2030 target. See food self-sufficiency in Sabah.
Off Semporna, Tun Sakaran Marine Park covers about 350 square kilometres (35,000 hectares). It was gazetted in 2004 and is managed by Sabah Parks.
Q How much fish does Sabah catch?
Q Which district lands the most fish?
Q How much seaweed does Sabah produce?
Q How much seafood does Sabah export?
Q How big is Tun Sakaran Marine Park?
Sources & References 4 sources
Last verified: 28 September 2026
Parks and plans
- Sabah Parks: Tun Sakaran Marine Park Park area and gazettement.
- Thirteenth Malaysia Plan 2026-2030 (Ministry of Economy) p.2-21: tagal/tagang system to be expanded to Peninsular Malaysia; p.2-20: blue economy hub in potential states including Sabah.
- National Agrofood Policy 2021–2030 (NAP 2.0) National self-sufficiency target for food fish: 98% by 2030.