KUCHING: The government wants more youth to join the fisheries industry.
Fisheries Development Authority of Malaysia (LKIM) chairman Datuk Seri Dr Irmohizam Ibrahim said this at a press conference after attending the state-level Chillax TN50 Young Agropreneur programme here yesterday.
“There are only 2,199 fishermen under the age of 40 in Sarawak, which is 28.75 per cent only. We are not satisfied with this number,” he said.
Saying the government encouraged young people to be agropreneurs, he hoped more youths would venture into the modern fisheries industry which not only encompasses fishing but also includes marketing, fish products processing and so on.
He said Tanjong Bako LKIM Fisheries Complex, the biggest among the seven fishery complexes in Sarawak and the whole of Malaysia, is an iconic feature and has the most comprehensive facilities in Asean.
“With this, it would help the economic growth in Sarawak and Malaysia,” said Irmohizam.
Agriculture and Agro-Based Industry Deputy Minister Datuk Anthony Nogeh Gumbek also attended the press conference.