Fishermen jetties in Kuching area to close after completion of new fisheries complex at Kampung Tanjung Bako
Ismail Sabri (centre) looking at the construction plan with Jabu (second left), Hazland (left) and others at the site yesterday.
KUCHING: Fishermen in the state’s southern zone will have to land all their catches at the new Malaysian Fisheries Development Authority (LKIM) Fisheries Complex being built at Kampung Tanjung Bako when it is completed.
The first phase of the fisheries complex, the second one in the state, is expected to be ready by July 22, 2017 after which all fish landing jetties in the Kuching area will be closed to enforce the centralised landing.
This was revealed by Agriculture and Agro-Based Industry Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob who visited the construction project yesterday.
“The LKIM Fisheries Complex here in Tanjung Bako will cater to the needs of about 2,900 fishermen here in Kuching. This is the second such complex in Sarawak after the first one located at Tanjung Manis,” said Ismail Sabri.
Construction of the first phase, which includes a jetty for fishermen to land their catch, ice factory and a cold storage facility capable of handling over 20,000 metric tonnes of fish, costs about RM247 million.
Ismail Sabri added that the second phase would comprise a residential complex, a dockyard and workshop, fish processing factory and a wholesale market.
“The first phase will be on a total area of 42.6 acres, while the second involves 23.6 acres. In total, the complex will cover a total of 66 acres,” he said, adding that a total of 45 such complexes had been built by LKIM across the country.
Asked to comment on his meeting earlier yesterday with Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem, Ismail Sabri said it was to discuss matters pertaining to agriculture projects for this year.
“We also touched on the 11th Malaysia Plan projects related to agriculture as the closing date to submit any project proposal is March 31,” he said.
He revealed that they had discussions on adding more artificial reef balls along the Sarawak coast which would be among the projects under the 11th Malaysia Plan.
“We are also looking at the probability of allocating funds for more rural agriculture offices to further improve the delivery of services,” he added.
Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Alfred Jabu and Demak Laut assemblyman Dr Hazland Abang Hipni were present.