KUANTAN: The Pahang government has given its assurance that there will be sufficient fish supply throughout the northeast monsoon season, which is expected to last until March next year.
State agriculture, agro-based industry and biotechnology committee chairman Datuk Seri Mohd Soffi Abd Razak said the assurance was based on fish production data from 2023, which recorded 136,853 tonnes from marine capture fisheries, aquaculture and inland capture fisheries.
He said the RM1.32bil in fish production showed that Pahang produced 5,071.92 tonnes of fish per month, which could be marketed outside the state.
“It is an increase of about 6% in quantity and a 15% rise in value compared with 2022, which recorded 129,522 tonnes worth RM1.15bil. It is the highest on the east coast.
“Last year, marine catch fisheries contributed RM910mil, aquaculture RM354mil and inland fisheries RM53.5mil,” he said during the state assembly sitting yesterday, Bernama reported.
He said this in response to a question from Datuk Seri Mohd Johari Hussain (BN-Tioman), who had asked about the current status of fish supplies following the start of the northeast monsoon in early November.
Meanwhile, Mohd Soffi said the state Fisheries Department had taken immediate measures to assist Sungai Pahang caged fish breeders, especially those affected by the floods.
“(Among the measures taken are) notifying the public early through notices and letters since October to help them prepare for the monsoon season and possible floods and urging operators and breeders to check and firmly secure their cages.
“Other measures include planning and selling fish suitable for the market and reporting to district fisheries offices if affected by disasters, following procedures like filing police reports to enable aid from the Agricultural Disaster Fund,” he said.
Based on records, the state government provided disaster fund assistance totalling RM307,425 to 45 farmers in 2020, RM463,000 to 179 farmers in 2021, RM1,951,767 to 275 farmers in 2022 and RM192,470.85 to 42 farmers last year.
