Chai presents a memento in the form of fresh water prawns to Dr Abdul Rahman (second right). Also seen are Ngab Dollah (left) and Wilson.
KUCHING: Development of the inland fishing industry in Sarawak has to be intensified to reduce the state’s overdependence on deep sea fishing, said Assistant Minister of Agriculture Dr Abdul Rahman Ismail.
Stating that deep sea fishing is going out of control, he said fresh water fish and aqua-cultured prawns now must be seen as alternative sources and one that generates better income for fishermen.
The effort to intensify development of inland fishing industry is in tandem with the state government’s objective through the Ministry of Modernisation of Agriculture, Native Land and Regional Development to ensure that food stock in Sarawak is sufficient, he stressed.
“Now we need to focus on aqua culture fish farming as we do not want to be overly dependent on deep sea fishing. Catch from the sea is hard to control and the industry’s development is also determined by various factors including the weather to the extent that production would be adversely affected,” he said.
“Sources of fish at sea are also getting smaller because of too much fishing,” he added.
Asian fishermen in general are still not a disciplined lot as they tend to fish overwhelmingly and out of control at the expense of Mother Nature, he said when closing a course on freshwater lobster rearing and aquaphonic system in Metro City Matang here.
The course was aimed at providing basic knowledge on marketing strategy to 22 participants, including researchers from the Sarawak Agriculture Department.
Lobsters are in high demand and could provide farmers with lucrative income, he pointed out.
Also present were Sarawak Agriculture acting director Dr Alvin Chai Lian Kuet, assistant director (commercialisation) Ngab Dollah Salam, assistant director (modernisation) Wilson Entabang and course instructor cum owner of Da-Na Lobster Blue, Mardziah Abdullah.