LABUAN — The Deep Sea Fishing Competition, held in conjunction with the Labuan International Sea Challenge (LISC) 2026, was flagged off today at the Labuan Public Marina, drawing strong participation from both local and international anglers.
Labuan Corporation chief executive officer, Rithuan Mohd Ismail, said a total of 224 participants have confirmed their participation in this year’s competition, which is one of the five main events of LISC 2026.
“Of the total, 198 participants are competing in the team category, involving 66 teams of three members each, while 26 participants are competing in the individual category,” he said during the flag-off ceremony.
Rithuan said the competition has also attracted international interest, with 55 participants from abroad, while the remaining 169 are Malaysians.
“The international participants are from Hong Kong, China, Singapore, the United States, Australia and Indonesia. Meanwhile, Malaysian participants come from Sabah, Sarawak, Labuan, Selangor, Penang, Kuala Lumpur, Perak, Kedah, Kelantan and Negeri Sembilan,” he said.
He added that participants have been assigned to three designated fishing zones — the waters of Terumbu Ubi, Terumbu Siput, and the area between Layang-Layang Island and Terumbu Semarang Barat Besar.
On regulatory matters, Rithuan said Labuan Corporation had obtained special approval from the National Security Council to allow fishing activities in the Semarang Peninjau reef cluster.
“Although these areas are permitted, the approval is subject to strict conditions and regulations. The competition is being closely monitored by enforcement agencies including the Royal Malaysian Navy, the Marine Police Force and the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency,” he said.
He also reminded participants not to catch protected marine species, including the humphead wrasse (Cheilinus undulatus), locally known as the “Maming”.
Rithuan said all catches will be landed on May 3 at the Labuan International Sea Sports Complex, followed by a fish auction.
The prize presentation ceremony will be held later the same day and will be officiated by Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Federal Territories), Datuk Lo Su Fui.
The flag-off ceremony was also attended by heads of agencies involved in organising LISC 2026.
Meanwhile, the 28th edition of the LISC event in 2026 is targeting 35,000 visitors, aiming for a significant increase in both participation and prize offerings.
A total of RM385,000 in cash prizes has been allocated, marking an increase from the RM350,000 offered in the previous edition. The event will feature five main competitions—up from four—highlighting its continued growth and diversification.
Key events include Deep Sea Fishing, Round Island Kayak, Mini Marathon Kayak, Regatta, and Cross Channel Swimming.
Total participation for this year has risen significantly, by 41.2 percent.
