KOTA KINABALU: Take care of our fish and food stocks and practice catch and release, says Datuk Seri Dr Jeffrey Kitingan.

The Sabah Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Industry Minister said those who love to fish must learn to not harvest all sizes of fish they catch, but instead release the smaller ones to mature before they are caught.

“Let us work together to take care of our seafood stocks, and please let those that are still not yet matured go, especially in this area where these fish fry have just been released,” he said.

Kitingan said this after releasing a total of 10,000 sea bass fry into the Likas Bay area on Saturday (June 29).

He said the release of fish fry was part of the ministry’s annual food security programme, where the main aim is to increase seafood stocks.

He said this annual programme, which started in 2022 with an allocation of RM100,000, has expanded with funding increased to RM400,000 this year with additional fish fry, young mussels and small prawns released into seas, lakes and rivers, wherever necessary.

“We must work together to increase our food supplies and improve food security in Sabah,” said Kitingan.

He said the ministry will continue with programmes such as these and improve where needed.

He thanked the Sabah Fisheries Department and all agencies under the department and his ministry for collaborating and making the event a success.

“I hope we will achieve our objective and together, we will reap the fruits of our labour,” Kitingan said.

https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2024/06/29/take-care-of-fish-stocks-release-immature-fish-for-the-future-kitingan-advises-fishermen