Majang (eighth left) and Belayong (seventh left) in a group photo with some of the recipients.
BINTULU: Samalaju assemblyman Majang Renggi commended local fishermen for venturing into the lucrative deep-sea fishing.
He said these industrious fishermen have changed the perception that fishing brought little income and deep-sea fishing is encouraged by the government to increase income of fishermen.
“The government’s call has been well-received by local fishermen. However you must not over exploit the resources,” said Majang when handing over 23 units of 200-litre insulated boxes and 71 units of life jackets worth over RM18,000 under the Sarawak Fisheries Department’s touch point project to fishermen in Bintulu at BDA Public Library auditorium.
Majang said Sarawak Fisheries Department has been allocated RM162,000 to carry out its touch point projects this year.
“We should be thankful to the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Najib Tun Razak for the RM300 as cost-of-living allowance for coastal fishermen and RM200 for deep sea fishermen who operate at C2 zone under Malaysian Fisheries Authority (LKIM),” he said.
Meanwhile Sarawak Fisheries Department director Belayong Nyuak said the fisheries sector has been supplying protein to Malaysians who consume over 50kg of fish per person each year.
According to Belayong, in 2017 the department was entrusted to supervise 14,188 fishermen in the state with about 6,500 fishing vessels registered.
“In 2017, Bintulu’s fishermen landed a total of 16,000 metric tonnes of fish worth RM64 million contributing to 10 per cent of the total catch of 155,000 metric tonnes in Sarawak and the target by year 2020 Sarawak is 300,000 metric tonnes,” he added.
Belayong said this year the department has been allocated RM12 million to implement various projects under seven main programmes. One of them is to deploy artificial reef balls as sanctuary for marine life and deter trawlers and encroachment.
He advised fishermen to wear life jackets at all times as extra safety precautions while carrying out fishing activities.