Call to review on trawler licensing

KUANTAN: The Pahang government today was urged to review licensing approval for deep sea fishermen, particularly those using trawl nets.
State Rural Development, Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Committee chairman Datuk Shafik Fauzan Sharif said the review was now needed to control the use of trawl nets, which were reported impacting income of small-time fishermen.
"We are aware of the problems surrounding the local fishermen especially the traditional ones ... There are deep-sea fishing vessels or boats that have caused defects on 'bubu' (fish traps) or fish nets which have an adverse effect on the income of these small-time fishermen.
"The state government has always been working closely with the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) and asked them (agency) to conduct frequent patrols to ensure that this problem does not occur that often," he said during the State Assembly sitting at Wisma Sri Pahang here today.
Shafik Fauzan was replying to a question from Datuk Seri Sh Mohamed Fuzi Sh Ali (BN-Peramu Jaya) who wanted to know measures taken and being adopted by the state government to curb illegal fishing activities which have caused fishermen's income to deteriorate.

Sh Mohamed Fuzi stated that from January to last month, Kuala Pahang fishermen incurred over RM600,000 in losses and that over 30 police reports were lodged over illegal fishing activities by foreigners in the area.
Meanwhile, State Tourism and Culture Committee chairman Datuk Seri Mohd Sharkar Shamsudin said the delay to the construction of the Bera rest house project was due to soft soil sedimentation.
He also explained that the project, scheduled to be completed in November last year, was now 70% completed as the structure plan had to be revised to accommodate the problem.
"When the consultant was aware of this problem, they had to do a review (of the project). The delay is caused by the soil structure, not due to the building or problems with contractor(s)," he said when replying to a question by Leong Yu Man (DAP-Triang). — Bernama