MOA offers 20 zone C licences to fishermen associations

KUALA LUMPUR: The Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Ministry (MOA) yesterday announced offering 20 zone C marine fisheries licences to fishermen associations throughout the country in the effort to generate income for fishermen.

Its Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek said the licences would be issued in stages until 2020.

“For the time being, only two fishermen associations have vessel permits for deep sea fishing... today will offer 20 zone vessels to fishermen associations in stages until 2020. To ensure fishermen generate high income, the permit would be used for modernising vessel as well as local crew,” he said when opening the 32nd National Fishermen’s Association (Nekmat) Annual General Meeting.

Also present were Deputy Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Minister Datuk Seri Tajuddin Abdul Rahman and Nekmat chairman Ahmad Rudin Hussain.

Ahmad Shabery also urged Nekmat to find other approaches to raise the income of fishermen which could contribute to the national fisheries industry.

“The annual overall value of the fisheries industry is RM13 billion. Fishermen associations only accounted for about RM2 billion with a profit of about RM20 million or one per cent and the association should target for a profit of up to 10 to 15 per cent,” he said. — Bernama