134 anglers take part in Miri deep-sea fishing tournament
MIRI: A total of 134 foreign and local anglers are now some 120 nautical miles offshore Miri taking part in the 11th Miri City International Deep Sea Fishing Tournament, which began yesterday.
The event was flagged off at Marina Bay wharf by Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency ( MMEA) Sarawak director Datuk Ismaili Bujang Pit, Mayor Adam Yii and Fisheries Department director Belayong Nyuak.
Tournament organising chairman Aaron Abel Donald said he was happy with the overwhelming response from 134 anglers from four countries towards the tournament held in conjunction with Visit Miri 2018.
The anglers comprise 35 from Singapore, 28 from China, 15 from Brunei and 56 from Malaysia, vying for the total prize of RM59,000 in the four- day, threenight tournament.
“Miri Anglers Association hopes that through this tournament, participants could become our ambassadors in promoting Miri not only as an important fishing destination, but also for other attractions,” he said.
The tournament was jointly organised by MMEA, Miri City Council, Fisheries Department, Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, and the Ministry of Youth and Sports.
As part of the tournament, the guests released 3,000 seabass fish fry at the marina as part of Fisheries Department efforts to support the annual tournament.
Meanwhile, fishing enthusiasts can look forward to the sale of catch during the tournament when the participants return to the Marina Bay wharf between 8am and 10am on May 13.
There will also be an exhibition of fishing gear on the 7th floor of Meritz Hotel on the same day.
The prize presentation for the tournament, which is divided into three categories, will be held during the dinner at the hotel on May 13.