The Southeastern Fishing Zone of Sabah is commonly called the Tawau Fishing Zone. The Fishing Zone is under the administrative jurisdiction of Lahad Datu and Semporna Districts and Kunak and Tawau Municipalities and all fall under the Tawau Division.
The combined landings of small pelagic fisheries in the Tawau Fishing Zone bring revenue from domestic and exports and provide employment to about 2,000 registered fishermen and unknown number of migrant fishers. The species of small pelagic fishes in the landings are the same as those landed in Zamboanga, Philippines (e.g., herrings, sardines, round scads, scads), indicating the possibility of exploiting a shared stock. Landings of small pelagic fishes are usually exported to Nunukan and Tarakan, Kalimantan, Indonesia. There also reports of sale of small pelagic fishes from Semporna to Tawi-Tawi and fishing outside of the narrow territorial waters in adjoining territorial water of Indonesia and the Philippines.
Highlights:
1. Establishment of the Inter-Sectoral Committee
2. Capacity building for the Inter-sectoral committee member on EAFM, socio-economy of pelagics fishing industry and effects of climate change
3. Signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for Co-management and co-financing of the IFM Plan
4. Stock definition and biological study of the small pelagics fishes in the SCS
5. Technical training on the biology and ecology of small pelagics fishes and co-financing