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New law soon on type of nets trawlers can use
The East Malaysia Daily Express
29th June 2004
The Agriculture and Food Industry Ministry is coming up with a new law on the types of fishing nets that can be used by trawlers in Sabah, depending on the depth of the sea.
Its Minister Datuk Abdul Rahim Ismail said the Ministry was also identifying “popular” fishing areas that were intruded by foreign trawlers. “Once identified, we will gazette the areas concerned to be converted as “Sports Fishing Area “ to ward off the intruders.
On another note, he assured that traditional fishermen would occasionally be allowed to enter the restricted or prohibited fishing zones, including Pulau Tiga or Mangalum.
“The fishermen may need to take shelter during bad weather in the area concerned and at the same time fish for their own consumption,” Rahim said, adding that the Ministry was flexible about it.
He was speaking after opening the annual meeting of the Sabah Fishermen Association, at Wisma Tabjung Haji, here Monday.
Earlier, Rahim said he could not understand why experienced fishermen with the necessary knowledge could not be elected district chairmen of the association.
There was no point appointing civil servants or those with no basic experience to head the association at district level, he said.
“The fishermen are directly involved in the industry and, at the same time, know exactly the needs and the problems faced by the fishermen in their respectively areas.”
He said it would be disastrous for the members if their Chairman has no knowledge about fishing, let alone life as a fisherman. He regretted that certain elected district chairmen were senior government servants and some of their secretaries were teachers.
“That is why some of the associations at district level were not functioning and facing failure,” he said.
He pointed out that when an association becomes weak their problems were not heard, depriving its members of enjoy whatever benefits implemented by the Government compared to the other district associations managed by more knowledgeable people.
According to Rahim there were about 20,000 poor fishermen in Sabah those need help and we cannot depend solely on the Government to give them assistance.
“There will a lot of benefits as members,” he said.
These included Micro Credit Scheme fund provided by Malaysia Fisheries Development Authority (LKIM) and 3F fund (Fund for Food) He stressed that DFA’s members, besides enjoying financial aid, also would benefit from transfer of the technology.
He pointed out that during the wet session when fishermen could not go out to sea, they could operate seafood restaurants.
“Its very successful in Kelantan and Terangganu,” said Rahim.
Rahim said the fishermen could even venture into eco-tourism such as offering home-stay to attract tourists going to their village. They also could demonstrate how to make Keropok, Belacan (prawn paste) or how to cook seafood to the tourists.
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