Fishermen in the Malaysian state of Sarawak should grab the various development opportunities available if they wish to break out from the cycle of poverty.
State Fishermen Association chairman Temrin Bustaman said one of the beneficial opportunities available is the financial aid provided to upgrade fishing tools especially boats and fishing nets.
He said the majority of fishermen in the state are coastal fishermen whose income is below the poverty line at around RM830 (US$273) per month.
I hope more of our fishermen will apply for the aid of RM5,000 to RM15,000 to buy boats, nets and ice boxes to store their catch. Through this, they can increase their daily catch, therefore improving their socio-economic status, he said.
He pointed out that many fishermen are still using conventional methods to catch fish.
Temrin said fishermen should no longer depend on the allowance given by the government as it was only a temporary measure, but instead should rely on their own initiatives to benefit from the incentives available.
He added the allowance had helped to lighten the burden of fishermen because they were paid RM250 for every 2.5 metric tonne of catch.
On Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak’s recent announcement of allocating RM5,000 to RM10,000 to improve the livelihood of fishermen, Temrin estimated a total of 60 fishermen in the state were eligible to receive the aid.
Based on an earlier evaluation by the association, we found about 60 fishermen qualified to receive the aid, but the actual figure is still being evaluated by a special team from Fisheries Development Authority (LKIM).
The aid shows that the government cares about the welfare of fishermen and I hope the fishermen in the state will continue to support the government, he said.
Meanwhile, Temrin also added that marine fishing is not enough to increase the income of their 16,000 members, which is why the association is also in the midst of planning projects such as freshwater fish rearing and breeding fish in cages.
The projects are being negotiated with relevant agencies and the identification of suitable locations are being conducted, he said.
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