The Penang government intends to construct a new tuna and deep-sea fishing port in the state that complies with international standards, aiming to boost tuna landings. State Agrotechnology, Food Security and Cooperative Development Committee chairman, Fahmi Zainol, stated that the government has identified a site in Bagan Ajam for the proposed tuna port and that discussions are already in progress.
“The state has earmarked land in Bagan Ajam for the development of the new port, with an estimated development budget of RM150 million to RM300 million. We are currently in talks with several investors for funding,” said Fahmi. He noted that, according to the planned timeline, the port could be completed within one-and-a-half to two years, subject to technical approval from the District Land Office and other relevant agencies, as well as private sector funding.
“We hope the new port can revive the glory days of Penang’s tuna industry, much like the 1990s,” he told Bernama. Fahmi emphasised the benefits of the new port, including its dedicated focus on tuna fishing, which means tuna vessels would not have to compete with commercial ships for docking space. The port is expected to offer lower charges, as it will not be operated on a commercial basis.
He added that competition for docking would be eliminated because the port will serve exclusively tuna landings, and that the facility is expected to attract foreign tuna ships thanks to its user-friendly amenities. The port will be built to meet European Union (EU) standards and feature specialised facilities for tuna fishing, which existing ports currently lack.
“According to preliminary data from the Malaysian Fisheries Department, the total tuna landings in Penang last year were 431,000 kilograms (kg), valued at RM7.758 million. The main landing point is currently the Butterworth deep-water wharf,” Fahmi said. He also reported that Malaysian vessels had landed tuna in Mauritius last year, totalling 4,295,758 kg, including 3,749,478 kg from local vessels.
So far this year, total tuna landings in Penang, including foreign vessels, have reached 1,445,120 kg, with an estimated value of RM26 million. Fahmi believes that establishing the dedicated tuna port in Bagan Ajam could lead to an increase in tuna landings by 30 to 50 per cent within five years of its operation.
He further envisions Penang positioned as a tuna processing hub, enabling foreign vessels to land their catch for processing before exporting it to destinations such as Taiwan or Japan.
