Malacca gov't urges establishment of 'Open Sea Policy' for fishermen's welfare

MALACCA: The Malacca government has asked the Ministry of Agriculture and Agro-based Industry to consider the implementation of an Open Sea Policy, as it will not only be beneficial to fishermen nationwide but also help solve the problems faced by fishermen in the state over the past few years.
State Agriculture and Entrepreneur Development Committee chairman Datuk Hasan Abdul Rahman said the policy was crucial to the state's fishermen as it was their main source of income.
He said the waters off the state's coast had become congested due to extensive land reclamation projects and sand mining activities.
"We will appeal to the Agriculture and Agro-based Industry minister to review the current Closed Sea Policy in the country's waters not only for the benefit of fishermen in Malacca but also nationwide.
"Under the Closed Sea Policy, fishermen in each state cannot enter the territorial waters of another state, and if caught, they will be fined," he told reporters after chairing a meeting to discuss the issues of fishermen in Kampung Hailam here, today.

Elaborating, he said that development projects in the waters of Malacca had affected the livelihood of 1,400 fishermen in the state.
Meanwhile, Hasan said apart from the Open Sea Policy, the state would help fishermen in the state find alternative means of income, including forming cooperatives or downstream businesses.
"We always strive to help the fishermen who are affected, particularly those in Kampung Hailam involving about 350 people. These efforts are to ensure they have some form of (income) security if they cannot go out to sea," he said.
In another development, he said the committee would also submit a proposal to require all companies involved in land reclamation works in the state's waters to deepen the estuaries near the projects as soon as possible.
He said work to deepen about 28 estuaries around the state should be undertaken by the concessionaire running land reclamation activities, and not be left up to the state government instead.
"The reclamation work is affecting the activities of fishermen, as it leads to the river mouths becoming shallow. This situation should not occur as there are 53 companies involved with land reclamation activities in state waters.
"They should at least deepen the estuaries once every four months, and we will recommend to the state government to put in this condition so that the issue can be addressed effectively," he said. — Bernama