MIRI: The federal Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Ministry is planning to transform the country’s deep sea fishing industry through the usage of modern vessels.
Its deputy minister Sim Tze Tzin mentioned this during his visit to Sarawak Slipways Sdn Bhd in Piasau industrial area yesterday afternoon.
“It is our fishing modernisation policy. The way forward for the industry is to go into deep sea fishing using modern vessels,” he said.
“With declining marine resources, the only way is to equip the modern vessels with high-tech equipment that can detect fish. You can go straight to the fish – save time and get better catch,” he said.
Therefore, the new generations are encouraged to get into the fishing industry for which the government is providing loans for purchasing fishing vessels.
“We have 15 government agencies and private companies working together, supporting the fishing modernisation programme in the country,” he said.
The agencies are Fisheries Development Authority (LKIM), Agro Bank, Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA), Malaysian Industry-Government Group for High Technology (MiGHT), National Fishermen’s Association (Nekmat), recognized organisations and ship designers.
“We want to replace our wooden fishing vessels with modern ones which make better money,” said Sim.
On the planning, he said it would be done in stages with no timeline or deadline especially for those venturing into deep sea fishing. “No time line is set … because there are rapid technological changes,” he said.
For fishermen doing coastal fishing, there is no urgency to replace their boats, he said.
Earlier, Sim visited two fishing vessels built by a Sarawak company, Sarawak Slipways Sdn Bhd, at its dockyard in Piasau industrial area.
Equipped with modern equipment, one of the vessels was purchased by BA Titan based in Queensland for RM4 million.
The buyer, Bob Instey, who was present during Sim’s visit purchased a shrimp trawler.
When asked why he bought the vessel produced by a Sarawak company, he said: “I am confident in their craftsmanship, and I am satisfied with the vessels that they have made,” he said.
“Perhaps next year, I will come again and purchase two more fishing vessels.”
The trawler is 18.3 metres long, six metres wide and three metres deep. It can accommodate six crew members.
Also with Sim during the visit were Miri Member of Parliament, Dr Michael Teo; Sarawak Slipways’s executive director (technical), Roger Chew Pak Kan, and project engineer, Chew Soon Kong.
So far, Sarawak Slipways has built four fishing vessels for BA Titan.
