Proposed revocation of fishing licence to protect income of poor fishermen

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PUTRAJAYA: The cancellation of the proposal by the Fisheries Department to impose a licence for anglers beginning next year aims to protect the source of income for poor fishermen in Zone A.

The decision to cancel the proposal made by Agriculture and Agro-Based Industry Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri yesterday had taken into consideration the plight of the group that would be affected if the proposal was implemented.

“We feel that the implementation of the fishing licence will burden the poor fishermen especially in Zone A besides inconveniencing those people whose hobby is fishing,” he told the media, here yesterday.

However, Ismail said many countries had implemented the fishing licence to protect the fish species and habitat as well as depleting marine life.

“But this regulation is implemented according to the suitability for the country and I believe it is not suitable for implementation in our country yet,” he said.

The issue became viral in the social website especially belonging to anglers and fishing fans who felt that the imposition of the licence for anglers was inappropriate. — Bernama