SEGAMAT: The state government plans to add floating jetties in selected locations in the state, especially those at risk of floods and high tide phenomenon to help inland fishermen, as well as to reduce damage to permanent jetties.
State Agriculture, Agro-based Industry and Rural Development Committee chairman Datuk Zahari Sarip said his office along with the State Fisheries Department and the local fishermen's associations were identifying the locations for the floating jetties.
He said the decision was made after observing that the existing floating jetties had to some extent helped the fishermen in times of need.
"As of now, there are four floating jetties that have been completed in the Batu Pahat, Kota Tinggi, Muar and Segamat districts.
"This year, we plan to build another floating jetty in Segamat and one in Kota Tinggi," he told reporters after visiting the construction site of the floating jetty in Kampung Seberang Batu Badak, here, which was also attended by Johor Fisheries Department director Zainudin Abd Wahab.
Zahari added that the floating jetty project would take about three months to build, and once completed, the fishermen would have a special place to land their catch and place their boats in a more orderly manner.
On the latest jetty to be built at the river mouth of Sungai Segamat at a cost of around RM100,000, he said it would benefit about 40 inland fishermen living around Kampung Sebarang Batu Badak.
Meanwhile, the Buluh Kasap assemblyman said several other initiatives to help inland fishermen were also implemented by the state government and related agencies such as releasing 600,000 fish fry in the rivers in the state and 70,000 shrimp fry in Sungai Muar, near Kampung Muar Awat, near here, last year.
"We are also planning to carry out a cage fish farming project involving the ‘baung’ fish in Muar, for which we have identified participants to be involved in the project," he said. - Bernama
