Malaysia To Use Set-Net Fishing Technology From Taiwan

KUCHING (Sarawak, Malaysia), Aug 28 (Bernama) -- Malaysia plans to use set-net fishing technology, a type of coastal fishing method widely used in Taiwan, to improve fish harvest by 2020, Fisheries Department Director-General Ahamad Sabki Mahmood said. He said the fishing method is environmentally friendly and enable high-quality fish to be caught by capitalising on a system and dedicated fishing gears to encircle identified fishing grounds. This system is said to be effective because only about 10 per cent of migratory marine resources are caught, thus ensuring the sustainability of fishery resources and curtailing their depletion, he added. He was speaking to reporters after witnessing the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Fisheries Department and Next Pearl (M) Sdn Bhd on research collaboration on set-net fishing technology, and aquaculture hatchery and nursery development. On the MoU, Ahamad Sabki said the marine aquaculture research would be conducted at the Marine Research Station (Marsal), Layang Layang Island under the stewardship of the Bintawa Fisheries Research Institute in east Malaysian state, Sarawak. "The department hopes the cooperation and sharing of expertise through the MoU will benefit all parties involved in efforts to develop aquaculture technology and enhance fishery-based entrepreneurship," he said. Ahamad said sustainable management of fisheries resources is one the strategic transformation directions outlined under the National Agro-Food Policy to achieve the target of landing 1.764 million tonnes of fish yearly by 2020 through sustainable coastal fishing based on comprehensive information. The Fisheries Department will also promote the deep-sea fishing industry, he said, adding that scientific research would continue to be conducted by the department along with other agencies for the benefit of industry players. --BERNAMA