LKIM Emphasises Aquaculture Development As Strategy To Ensure National Fish Supply

KANGAR, Jan 31 (Bernama) -- The Fisheries Development Authority of Malaysia (LKIM) is emphasising aquaculture development as a long-term strategy to ensure the country's fish supply, while also creating new income opportunities for fishing communities, including youth.

Its director, Muhammad Faiz Fadzil said that by 2030, the aquaculture sector is targeted to be among the main contributors to the country's fish production, so fishermen need to be prepared to shift from solely traditional fishing methods to a more modern and skilled approach.

“We don’t want fishermen to miss out on opportunities in the aquaculture field because this is one of the country's main focuses for the future. Aquaculture requires specific skills, which is why we want to produce modern fishermen, including young fishermen trained in this field," he said.

Muhammad Faiz said this to reporters after the LKIM Chairman's Rahmah Mesra MADANI Programme with Perlis fishermen at the Kuala Perlis LKIM Fisheries Complex near here today.

He said that among LKIM's current main focuses are strengthening infrastructure facilities, increasing aquaculture production capacity, and providing appropriate training to ensure fishermen can diversify their income sources and not be entirely dependent on government assistance.

Muhammad Faiz said the effort was also supported through the MyAquaBest programme that focuses on marketing aspects of aquaculture products, thereby expanding market access for fishermen's associations.

"If previously only 13 Area Fishermen's Associations (PNK) were directly involved in aquaculture, that number has now increased to 20 PNK. We will also combine supplies from aquaculture and marine catches to strengthen the country's fish marketing system," he said.

He said strengthening the supply chain is important to ensure that the fish supply is more stable, especially during the festive seasons or certain periods that often see price fluctuations.

“The issue of fish prices needs to be viewed holistically, including aspects of logistics, transportation and storage. At the LKIM level, we ensure fishermen have sufficient facilities to go out to sea, but price solutions require a collective approach across the supply chain," he said.

Additionally, Muhammad Faiz said that the development of downstream industries based on fisheries' products like frozen goods and fish-based foods is also being given attention to increase the added value of local fishermen's catch.

At the programme, he officiated the handover of assistance to fishermen under the Income Enhancement Programme - LKIM Fishing Gear Incentive/Assistance (Touch Point), which involved the provision of a 30-horsepower (hp) outboard engine to a recipient.

Additionally, 30 recipients received a fishing net assistance along with equipment and insulated fish tubs, and food basket assistance was provided to 10 recipients, all of whom were fishermen under the Kuala Perlis PNK.

-- BERNAMA