NBOS subsidy to bump up fishing income in August

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Dr Sim (third right), Chong (second right) and others pressing a button to launch the National Blue Ocean Strategy programme.

Dr Sim (third right), Chong (second right) and others pressing a button to launch the National Blue Ocean Strategy programme.

KUCHING: Local fishermen have more reason to go out to sea and bring back a large haul with the implementation of the National Blue Ocean Strategy (NBOS) — ‘Kejayaan Nelayan Kebangaan Negara’ programme which will commence this year on Aug 1.

Borneo Industrial Fishery (BIF) Sdn Bhd chief executive officer Chong Ted Shen said that fishermen stand to earn higher income with this programme.

The initial programme involves eight villages and 110 fishermen, and it will be expanded to include the whole of Sarawak and then whole of Malaysia, he said.

“The current government subsidy programme is RM100/ton for table fish only, but under this programme, fishermen will get additional RM850/ton for table fish, RM150/ton for surimi and RM150/ton for trash fish.

“There is no limit on how much subsidy they can claim,” said Chong at the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signing ceremony between BIF and seven investors from China at a hotel here on Saturday night.

He explained that table fish are fishes sold at markets, surimi are fishes processed into fishball and the like, while trash fish are fishes processed as animal feed.

Apart from that, the participants have a chance to enjoy free enhancement of their fishing facilities, like getting a bigger boat or new technology for bigger hauls.

The MOU aims to bring in foreign investors to promote the fisheries industry in Sarawak, provide technology transfer, financing and to improve the competitiveness of local fisheries products while deepening the value of the fisheries products in Sarawak.

Earlier, Senator Datuk Dr Sim Kui Hian said this programme is beneficial as it expands the fisherman’s income and encourages them to go to sea more often.

Plus, with Sarawak’s extensive coastline length of 742km, the state will be able to compete internationally, he said.