According to Muhammad Faiz Fadzil, the chairman of the Fisheries Development Authority of Malaysia, fish landings nationwide saw an increase of 1.89 million metric tonnes last year, up from 1.75 million metric tonnes in 2022. The agency aims to further increase this number in the current year to align with the government’s food security agenda and meet the needs of the people.
To achieve this goal, the agency plans to enhance support components for fishing activities by improving their quality and services. One of the areas that require attention is the need for more ice factories and the renovation of their aging complex, as mentioned by Muhammad Faiz in a statement to Bernama.
During the inauguration of the Fisheries Development Authority of Malaysia-PERTONAS Madani Fishermen’s Children Back to School programme at the Pekan Regional Fishermen’s Association office, Muhammad Faiz emphasized the importance of investing in the future generation. A total of 100 fishermen’s children were given RM150 vouchers for school supplies along with school bags, hats, and water bottles.
The programme, which concluded in Kuala Pahang in Pekan, Pahang, had previously been conducted in four states, with a total donation value of RM110,000. In addition to focusing on increasing fish landings, Muhammad Faiz noted that the agency is also exploring aquaculture and utilizing advanced technology to boost fish production in Malaysia.
Collaborating with Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT), the agency is working on technology transfer and training initiatives to ensure the success of the aquaculture industry. Muhammad Faiz expressed the agency’s commitment to involving more youths in fishing activities, currently accounting for 30% of the total number of fishermen in the country, by offering skills training to develop human capital alongside enhancing physical infrastructure.
