KUCHING: The Sarawak Fishermen Association (Penesa) has called on the Fisheries Department to review the licence and approval given to foreign fishing boats to fish in the state’s waters as it has given negative impact to the local fishermen.
Its chairman Temrin Bustaman said right now local fishermen were suffering losses up to 60 per cent because the licensed foreign fishermen failed to adhere to the stipulated regulations, including in terms of fishing distance and fish landing.
“We want the department to stop issuing the licence immediately as the problem is getting serious.
“In the long run, it is feared that only the foreign fishermen would benefit from the marine products in the state and the income of local fishermen will be badly affected, hence effort to take the local fishermen out of the poverty line will fail,” he told Bernama here today.
Besides, he said the foreign fishermen could also bring about social problems to the local villagers, especially in Tanjung Manis, Sarikei.
It is learnt that the majority of the foreign fishermen issued with the licence are from Thailand and Vietnam. — Bernama