LAWAS: A total of 300 units of artificial reef ball types have been deployed in six clusters in Lawas waters to create Fish Aggregating Device (FAD) to attract pelagic fish, thus becoming a new location for recreational fishing in this district.
Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan said that this effort is part of the Sarawak Reef Ball Phase 2 Project implemented by the Sarawak Forestry Corporation (SFC), aimed at conserving the marine ecosystem, increasing fish stocks and supporting the development of the state’s blue economy.
“The implementation of Phase 1 of the Sarawak Reef Ball Project has begun since 2018 where the results of their initial studies have shown encouraging results in terms of restoring the marine ecosystem, protecting habitats and increasing fish stocks in the target area,” he said during the launching ceremony of the Sarawak Reef Ball Project Phase 2 at Kampung Awat-Awat Riverbank here recently.
Awang Tengah, who is also Bukit Sari assemblyman said that previously, six FADs had been established from Bukit Sari to Punang in 2019, making a total of 12 sport fishing spots in Lawas sea waters which have the potential to boost recreational tourism activities.
He also stressed that the implementation of this project was in line with the Post Covid-19 Development Strategy (PCDS) 2030 which places environmental sustainability as an important component in Sarawak’s green and blue economy.
