Increase in fish landings leads to LKIM increasing its goal

There is an increase in fish landings nationwide of 1.89 million metric tonnes last year, compared with 1.75 million metric tonnes reported in 2022.

In view of that, Fisheries Development Authority of Malaysia (LKIM) chairman Muhammad Faiz Fadzil said that the agency aims to increase the number this year, to achieve the goals set by the government under the food security agenda in meeting the needs of the people.

“So, we, at the LKIM level, will ensure that the support components for fishing activities can be repaired, and the quality and services improved.

“Among the things that need to be improved are opening more ice factories and renovating our complex, which has become worn out over time,” he told Bernama.

He said this after officiating the LKIM-Petronas MADANI Fishermen’s Children Back to School programme, at the Pekan Regional Fishermen’s Association (PNK) office, here today.

A total of 100 fishermen’s children received RM150 vouchers to buy school supplies. They were also provided with school bags, hats and water bottles.

Kuala Pahang in Pekan, Pahang, is the last location where the programme was held, after having been held in four states, with a total value of donations amounting to RM110,000.

Faiz said that, apart from focusing on the number of fish landings, the agency also looked at the field of aquaculture to increase fish production in the country, using the latest technology.

“LKIM has established a collaboration with Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT) for transfer of technology and training, to make the aquaculture industry successful.

“We also want the number of youths involved as fishermen, who currently represent 30 per cent of the total number of fishermen in the country, to be increased by providing skills training.

“We not only want to see the progress of physical infrastructure but seriously develop human capital,” he said.