Sabah govt may freeze export of crabs — Junz

TAWAU: The Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industry may freeze the export of crabs in Tawau and Semporna and will be making a careful study of a mechanism for a win-win solution as part of preserving Sabah as a seafood heaven for the local people and tourists.

Its minister, Junz Wong said crab exports had become an extensive issue in Tawau due to overwhelming boxes of crabs being shipped daily to other countries.

“It is increasingly difficult to find quality crabs in Tawau and Semporna, even though the normal quality crabs are sold expensively.

“There is a dire need to retain the continuous supply of good quality crabs in Tawau and Semporna for the sake of promoting the tourism industry, and making Tawau as a crab centre in the future.

“We urge all operators and players related to the industry not to worry about it as we will take all aspects into consideration in the mechanisms relating to crabs exportation before implementing it,” he told reporters in a press conference after visiting the Tawau Fishery Market and Jetty here in an effort to learn more about the industry.

He was accompanied by his assistant minister, Dr Daud Yusof, the permanent secretary to the ministry and directors and deputy directors of Fisheries, Ko Nelayan and Agriculture Departments.

Furthermore, Junz said the state government was also making initiatives to develop Tawau and Semporna as a Seafood Export Hub and rebuild the two districts as a new township for tourism industry.

Junz has also appointed Major Chen Fan Kyun as his Task Coordinator in Tawau.