‘Fishermen market good for strengthening fishing industry’

SIBU: The Bruit Fishermen Association’s ( PNK) building at Ding Lik Kong Road, which also houses a fishermen market, acts as a venue for collection, distribution and marketing of sea- based products.

In disclosing this PNK Bruit chairman Ismaily Joharie, said the building was purchased at a price of RM680,000 in 2012.

He added that their office in Pulau Bruit had a coldstorage and blast freezer, which was in the final phase of installation.

He told reporters this after the opening of the fishermen market here, which was officiated at by chief political secretary to the chief minister Abdullah Saidol yesterday.

In his speech Abdullah said this (market) was a good initiative to strengthen the local fishing industry.

“It will encourage more youths to participate in the fishing industry not just by becoming fishermen but as entrepreneurs in the capacity as wholesalers, traders and even into end-product cottage industry,” the Semop assemblyman, said.

He assured of his support towards such initiative and mulled to hold a mini carnival similar to that held in Kota Samarahan recently.

All related government agencies would be brought together to do awareness programme during the proposed carnival, he added.

This was important to improve the socio- economy of all those involved in the industry, he said, adding the government had earmarked the central zone, being in the SCORE area, as the state’s food basket.

“I believe the government will be more serious about strengthening it and getting more fund to support all the relevant agencies because Tanjung Manis is where the halal hub is going to be developed.”

Meanwhile, Malaysia Fisheries Development Authority ( LKIM) Sarawak’s secretariat marketing representative Sufri Ahmad, said there was grant for fishermen associations to build fishermen markets and the supply of equipment.

“The fishermen market is an alternative market for fishermen to sell their catch.

“Through the market, we can indirectly control the price of fish. There are also other grants for the purchase of 4WD vehicles for the transportation of their products.”

He, however, said this would not be fully subsidised as the cost would be partially borne by the fishermen association themselves..

“We are now building a coldstorage complete with facility in Pulau Bruit to store the fishermen’s catch.”

PNK Bruit general manager Bustam Opis, ‘ Pusat Latihan Teknologi Perikanan’ ( Tanjung Manis) manager Marjuki Juli and Malaysia Fisheries Development Authority ( LKIM) Sarawak’s secretariat marketing representative Zahurin Zakaria were among those present.