PETALING JAYA: More than 50% of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) is generated through maritime foreign trade and the fishing industry, says the Transport Ministry.

       Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong said the economic value of Malaysia’s maritime sector is generated by a wide range of economic and resource-use activities.

       “This includes shipping and maritime transport, marine fisheries, marine tourism, marine engineering and biotechnology, among others,” he said during the keynote speech at the 45th Annual Conference on Oceans Law & Policy: UNCLOS (United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea) at 40, which was held virtually.

       His speech was delivered by Transport Ministry secretary-general Datuk Isham Ishak on Wednesday (March 16).

       According to Dr Wee, economic contributions from marine natural resources and ocean industries were also rising in importance alongside the growth of oil and gas as well as ports and shipping industries.

       He also said Malaysia is committed to keeping its maritime zones safe and secure for international transport, trade, and other ocean-related issues.

       “The South China Sea in particular has become increasingly vital – not only in terms of defence strategies but also towards the country’s economic development.

       “Additionally, the safety and security of the Straits of Melaka and the South China Sea are also vital towards national, regional and international shipping,” he said, adding that the potential for growth of the maritime transport industry in Asia Pacific was very promising.

       He also said that Malaysia together with neighbouring countries Singapore and Indonesia had established cooperative mechanisms in both the Straits of Melaka and Singapore to ensure safe navigation for international shipping.

       “The Melaka Straits Patrol has also been recognised as a cooperation model among littoral states which is advocated in UNCLOS.

       “This cooperative forum in turn provides a platform for stakeholders, including user states and leaders of the shipping industry, to engage and contribute towards efforts to maintain the safety of navigation and the protection of the marine environment,” he said.

       He added that Malaysia also saw illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing as a threat that required a coordinated national response.

       “As such, Malaysia formulated a National Action Plan to prevent, deter and eliminate such practices in accordance with the United Nations Food Agriculture Organisation’s Plan of Action on IUU.

       “Despite having a solid legal and policy framework, we are unable to face this threat alone due to the multifaceted and cross-border nature of it,” he said.

       Also present during the virtual conference were Maritime Institute of Malaysia (Mima) director-general Datuk Dr Sabirin Ja’afar, Stockton Centre for International Law chairman Prof James Kraska, Korea Maritime Institute president Dr Kim Jong-Deog Kim and World Maritime University president Dr Cleopatra Doumbia-Henry.

       Mima together with the Stockton Centre for International Law, US Naval War College and other co-sponsors had jointly hosted the 45th Annual Conference on Oceans Law & Policy from March 16-18.

       The conference, which is the pre-eminent international maritime law meeting globally, is conducted by the Stockton Centre for International Law annually.