TUARAN, Nov 16 — Sabah hit a milestone in cutting edge aquaculture technology today by being the first to introduce the world’s first ever commercially hatched Panulirus ornatus, commonly known as ornate spiny lobsters.

The milestone, witnessed today by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak at the Integrated Lobster Aquaculture Park (iLAP) Mini Commercial Hatchery, has brought Malaysia one step closer to the global market for lobsters that is currently valued at over US$4 billion (RM13 billion) a year.

“Only a handful of people in the world have the knowledge and technology to successfully culture the critical 11 stages and undergo metamorphosis from larvae form to juvenile lobster,” said Lobster Aqua Technologies president and ceo Dr Shahridan Faiez in a statement here.

“No one has ever successfully bred these large edible lobsters in captivity till now.  Sabah, with its ideal natural tropical environment is now the landmark for this historic event,” he said.

This scientific breakthrough will put Sabah on the map as a state with sustainable agrifood production and Malaysians as world experts in lobster aquaculture, the statement said.

The RM3 billion and 15 year lobster aquaculture project is expected to create 20,000 high-income jobs by 2028. 

The hatchery-based lobster juveniles are already deployed into sea-cages for the first time ever in Semporna. 

“We are proud to have successfully localised this hatchery technology. This is how technology and talent come together and become a powerful catalyst for transformation. 

“Without state and federal government support, none of this would have been possible,” says Dr Shahridan.