The ban on the use of “pukat tunda” (trawler nets) in Zone B (commercial) from January 1, 2016 will have negative impact on some 5,000 fishermen in the northwestern Malaysian state of Kedah.
Kedah Fisheries Industry Association chairman Toh Sang Chai said this was due to the high cost of renovating the fishing boats.
“The cost of renovation is between RM300,000 to RM600,000 and thus beyond the means of low income fishermen,” he told a press conference here, today.
In November 2014, Agriculture and Agro-Based Industry Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said the ban of “pukat tunda” in Zone B would check intrusion of Zone A (reserved for traditional fishermen).
Accordingly, the government will reopen licences for “pukat jerut” for fishermen in zones B and C from January 1 this year.
Toh said the use of “pukat jerut” was only suitable for large boats and fishing in cluster areas.
“This is different with ‘pukat tunda’ which can be used to capture more fish species,” he said.
He explained that Zone B, which previously reached up to five nautical miles would be extended up to eight nautical miles.
2015 Sun Media Corporation Sdn. Bhd.