Inland fisheries station produces 30,000 siakap fry annually for export, research centre for prized fish
LAWAS: The Punang Inland Fisheries Station (SPDP) here is the main producer of siakap (sea bass) fry in northern Sarawak for export to neighbouring Brunei.
Assistant Minister for Agriculture, Dr Abdul Rahman Ismail said the station is also a research centre for the production of other prized local fish such as empurau, semah and kerapu.
He said the fisheries station is capable of producing an average of 30,000 siakap fry yearly for export to Brunei.
“SPDP is capable of increasing the income of 37 entrepreneurs of fish cage culture in Lawas with an average monthly income of RM4,000,” he told reporters during a working visit to SPDP yesterday.
Also present were State Inland Fisheries principal assistant director Jamaiah Lohor, Kuching fisheries officer Amyline Baduk, Limbang agriculture officer Jafaruddin Ali, Lawas District agriculture superintendent Doraup Mail, Lawas Farmers Organisation general manager Yunus Akup and head of SPDP Roland Joannes.
Dr Abdul Rahman gave assurance that the government would strive to improve facilities at the fisheries station such as repairing leaking tanks and replacing other outdated and old facilities in an effort to make the station the production centre for cage-reared fish.
He urged the local community to be involved in cage culture of fish adding that it could be a lucrative venture when carried out on a large scale basis.
He said Lawas has great potential in such a venture, especially SPDP which is strategically located near the sea.
The assistant minister added that through SPDP, the government could reduce dependency on sea fish while at the same time increase fish exports.