Promoting Sustainable Fishing Culture through Angling Tourism Development in Miri

(Miri, 27th) Sarawak Minister of Transport, Dato Sri Lee Kim Shin, stated that Miri possesses excellent natural conditions for the development of angling activities and should continue to promote this as a local and even international tourism project. He also emphasized that anglers must practice responsible and sustainable fishing methods to safeguard marine and riverine ecological resources.

He made these remarks in his speech last night at the Miri Anglers Club's 2026-2028 Executive Committee Inauguration Ceremony held at Grand Palace Hotel.

Lee Kim Shin pointed out that the Miri Anglers Club has been established for nearly 30 years. He has supported the club since its inception and has witnessed it evolve from promoting local leisure hobbies to gradually developing into a potential platform for international fishing activities.

He said that Miri has marine, river, and abundant fishery resources, making it very suitable for the development of sport angling, especially deep-sea fishing. During his term as Minister of Tourism, he actively promoted the "Miri International Deep Sea Fishing Competition", successfully attracting many anglers from countries such as Singapore and China, further boosting local tourism development.

"Contestants at that time stayed at sea for two days and one night, or even longer, having bountiful harvests and even landing fish weighing up to 65 kilograms, nearly as tall as an adult, which amazed foreign anglers."

He pointed out that with the promotion of international events, Miri once became well-known as an angling tourism destination and gained international exposure through foreign media coverage, including a filming and report by a TV team from Guangdong, China, which successfully enhanced its international profile.

He hopes that the new committee will continue these efforts, not only promoting angling culture locally but also actively reaching out internationally to attract overseas anglers back to Miri to participate, revitalizing the fishing tourism project, which has been dormant for many years.

In addition, Lee Kim Shin suggested that the club assist in identifying angling spots throughout Miri, including rivers, sea areas, and large reservoirs, and proposed connecting large reservoirs into a canal system to develop a new tourism model that combines boating and angling, while also serving a flood control function.

He stressed that angling activities must adhere to "responsible fishing", for example avoiding the capture of undersized fish in order to let them grow and reproduce, thus ensuring sustainable resource development.

"We must pay attention to environmental protection, safeguard the ecology of oceans and rivers, and ensure that future generations still have abundant fishery resources."

He also encouraged the new committee to strengthen teamwork and innovation, organize more meaningful activities to attract young people, and enhance members’ angling skills through lectures and training courses, including the use of artificial lures and the application of different fishing tackles in different environments. At the same time, he reminded anglers that safety must always be the top priority during activities.

Lee Kim Shin stated that, after a stagnation of seven or eight years in related activities, he looks forward to seeing Miri host more angling events in the future and turning it into one of the region's key tourism brands.