SERDANG: The Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Ministry, with the cooperation of the Federal Agriculture Marketing Authority (FAMA) is developing a system that will enable fishermen to sell their catch while still at sea.
Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Minister Datuk Salahuddin Ayub said the move was taken as part of the ministry’s measures to increase fishermen’s income.
He said the system, when completed, would complement the use of the Malaysian Fisheries Development Authority’s (LKIM) Fish Price Information application.
“The system enables fishermen to sell their marine catch while still at sea, without having to wait until they land like what they have been doing.
“With the help of the LKIM’s fish price information application, the fishermen will be able to know the current price of fish and directly sell their catch through the system that is being developed,” he told a media conference after a meeting with fisheries development agents at the Malaysia Agro Exposition Park serdang (MAEPS) here today.
Also present was Fisheries Deputy Director-General Datuk Dr Bah Piyan Tan.
Salahuddin said the system would be introduced to also, among others, address the issue of middleman who often manipulated the price of fish, resulting in the fishermen to incur losses.
Meanwhile, Salahuddin said the ministry was working to station members from the Malaysian Volunteers Department (Rela) to oversee fisheries areas against trespassing by illegal fishermen.
He said the matter needed to be discussed further with the Home Ministry as it would involve enforcement and security.
On the role of fisheries development officers, Salahuddin said, they should find ways to help increase the fishermen’s income and to equip themselves with more knowledge to help boost the industry. – Bernama
