To increase fish production by the aquaculture industry, Malaysia’s Fisheries Department will boost a programme to rehabilitate abandoned fish cages and fish ponds.
Deputy director-general (Operations) Mohamad Saupi Derahman said the industry had the potential to support the national fish production and reduce import.
He said, of the 1.30 million metric tonnes in national fish production last year, 291,000 metric tonnes were from the aquaculture industry.
Speaking to reporters after the handing over of freshwater fish input aid at Kampung Jejuluk and Padang Durian here today, Mohamad Saupi said an estimated 832 hectares of abandoned fish ponds would be revived nationwide this year.
“The aim of having the programme is to lighten the burden of the target group, due to increasing production costs, and encouraging the development and revival of abandoned cages and ponds,” he said.
He said, the rehabilitation programme, involving 200 participants, was expected to result in a production of 539.7 metric tonnes of fish.
During the ceremony, Mohamed Saupi handed input aid to 17 participants of the freshwater fish rearing project in Kampung Jejuluk and nine rearers of freshwater fish in irrigation canals at Kampung Padang Durian.
2011 The New Straits Times Press (Malaysia) Berhad