KOTA KINABALU: The Sabah Anglers Association (SAA) is targeting to raise the cash and in-kind prizes for the annual Sabah International Fishing Tournament (SIFT) from RM70,000 to RM100,000 next year.
Its president, Datuk Wilfred Lingham, said prizes for SIFT 2017 have been increased from six to 10 this year with a total of RM70,000 in cash and kinds, including trophies and medals.
“We are looking at possibly increasing the prizes to RM100,000 next year in cash and kinds,” he said after flagging off the 98 participants of the fishing tournament at the Sutera Marina here yesterday.
Ten teams have registered for SIFT this year, including three from Brunei Darussalam, two from Macau, Hong Kong and China, one from Singapore and four from Malaysia. The three Bruneian teams have joined the fishing tournament for the past three years.
Lingham said SAA had been organizing SIFT for the past 15 years and the event had been absorbed into the Sabah tourism calendar every year.
He said the tournament was only intended for local fishermen and anglers in the early years but it gradually became an international event attracting participants from China, Hong Kong, Singapore and Brunei.
“Last year, we had a strong contingent from China comprising 103 participants. This year, we only had about 30 participants from China.”
He said the drop was due to a fishing tournament in Sarawak which was held before the SIFT, thereby grabbing away some of the participants who intended to join the event in Sabah.
Nonetheless, Lingham said for an event to sustain for so long and continue to get the attention from fishing enthusiasts meant that SAA was on the right track on promoting SIFT as a tourism activity.
“Having organized the event for 15 years, SAA is more like a franchise holder for the fishing tournament,” he said.
Lingham said the teams would be fishing in Pulau Layang-Layang for four days and three nights before making their 18-hour return trip at 9am on Saturday, April 29.
“The participants will have to be back at Sutera Marina by 11am on Sunday, April 30.
“Upon their return, we will start weighing the fishes qualified for the tournament,” he said. The results will be announced at noon.
Lingham said a briefing was held with the participants and boats owners as well as captains on Monday night during which they were reminded of the rules and regulations laid down by SAA and the National Security Council.
This includes fish species which are not allowed to be landed according to the Fisheries (Control of Endangered Species of Fish) Regulations 1999 (Amendment) 2008 which are wrasse (cheilinus undulates), all sharks and manta ray (manta birostris and manta alfredi).
“If hooked they must be released immediately. Failure to do so would result in the disqualification of the participant,” Lingham said and added that those who managed to hook a billfish, can submit photographic proof or video of the catch as the fish must also be realised immediately in accordance to the International Game Fishing Association’s (IGFA) rules.
On another note, Lingham thanked the continuous support from the Sabah Tourism Board (STB), Sri Pelancongan Sabah and Sutera Harbour Marina, Golf and Country Club as the venue provider.
SAA, he added, records its appreciation and gratitude to Parex Group and Davco, Pure Fishing, the state Fisheries Department, K2 Lifewater, MAWILLA and the Royal Malaysian Navy for their continuous support.
“I would like to remind those interested to purchase formalin free fish that the winning fishes will be auctioned off to the public at 1pm on April 30.
“Those interested can come and participate in the auction on that day,” he said, adding that this is part of SAA’s effort to promote awareness about formalin free fish.
The money derived from the auction will be given to a charitable organization which SAA will nominate later on. Money from the auction was channeled to the Single Mothers’ Association last year.
Also present at the flag-off were STB deputy general manager Suzaini Sabdin and Sutera Harbour Marina, Golf and Country Club general manager Rick Blackie.