BINTULU: More efforts are needed to strengthen the fishing and fish production sector in Sarawak.
Malaysian Fisheries Development Authority (LKIM) Chairman, Muhammad Faiz Fadzil, said that Sarawak recorded only 37,000 metric tonnes of fish catch annually, far behind Perak which recorded over 200,000 metric tonnes per year.
Hence, he urged all the 18 Area Fishermen’s Associations (PNK) in Sarawak to be more proactive and aggressive in increasing the state’s fish production, which currently ranks sixth highest in the country.
“Sarawak has vast and large marine areas, good infrastructure facilities such as in Tanjung Bako and Tanjung Manis, which have the potential to generate active fishing activities,” he said.
He made these remarks when speaking to the media after officiating the ‘Jimat MADANI’ Cheap Sale Programme at the ABF Fishermen’s Market here today.
According to him, PNKs should not only support the fishing community but also strengthen catch capacity through modern and large-scale approaches.
“With complete facilities at locations such as Tanjung Bako, Tanjung Manis, Miri, Belawai and Bintulu, Sarawak has a strong foundation to implement a comprehensive transformation of the fisheries sector.
“We want to see more PNKs utilising Zone A and Zone B, including the use of large vessels and encouraging a shift away from relying solely on operations in Zone C,” he added.
He also emphasised that efforts to increase the state’s marine output must be aligned with an efficient marketing system, where Malaysia’s Marine Partners (RKM) play a crucial role in ensuring an organised distribution of the catch.
“We are not just talking about the volume of catch, but also ensuring that the public has sufficient fish supply at stable prices,” he stressed.
