Shabery: Tok Bali port has potential to be deep sea fishing hub
PASIR PUTEH: The Tok Bali fishing port here has the potential to be a deep sea fishing hub in the region if it can provide international standard services, said Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek.
He said the potential could be seen with the increased fishing landings which saw a three-fold rise in three years.
“It was 62,238 tonnes in 2014 and rose to 218,800 tonnes last year,” he told reporters after a MeetandGreet session with Kelantan fishermen at the port yesterday.
Ahmad Shabery said among the matters that needed to be looked into were increasing freezer capacity, provision of adequate quality ice for long term periods, the downstream industry, logistics and cleanliness, which must meet international standards.
He also instructed the Malaysian Fisheries Development Authority and the Semerak Fishermen’s Association, which operates the port, to increase and raise the quality of services there.
On other matters, Ahmad Shabery gave the assurance that there would adequate fish supply to meet needs during the fasting month of Ramadan and that prices would be affordable.
At the event, Ahmad Shabery also presented 50 approval letters for licences for the Pukat Suluh Bilis method of fishing, 45 Automatic Identification System certificates, 50 units of insulated barrels, 40 GPS ( global positioning system) units, 150 pukat hanyut nets and 160 lifebuoys to fishermen from around Pasir Puteh, Tumpat, Kota Bharu and Bachok.
He also launched a fishing related project that will benefit 3,400 fishermen. — Bernama