SIBU: More than 200 members of the Sarawak Fishing Vessels Association have suspended operations for a week from Saturday (Jan 4) in protest of a recent policy imposed by the Fisheries Department.
It is learnt the move centres on the requirement for all Class C vessels to have mobile tracking units installed.
In response to the protest, Bintulu MP Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing (pic) called on the authorities to initiate an immediate dialogue with the fishermen to find an appropriate solution and keep the matter from escalating.
Tiong, who is also Dudong assemblyman and Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister, said the situation could potentially disrupt Sarawak’s food supply chain and with Chinese New Year approaching, would affect the supply of fish.
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"If the authorities do not promptly implement a better solution, there will likely be a shortage of supply, forcing the public to pay higher prices for fish,” he said in a statement on Monday (Jan 6).
According to Tiong, as of Jan 2, the Fisheries Department would no longer approve the renewal of licences for Class C trawlers without satellite trackers, and vessels found operating without them will face enforcement action.
He stated that fishermen in his constituencies have repeatedly voiced their concern over the requirement, which they said added to their financial burden.
"The cost of installing the tracking unit alone exceeds RM6,000.
"Then there’s another RM2,000 annually for rental and maintenance,” he said.
According to Tiong, fishermen already faced challenges adapting to climate change, coping with the increased minimum wage, and maintaining their competitiveness in the market.
He said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim had called for the government to prioritise resolving fundamental issues faced by the people and had directed the secretaries-general of all ministries to address public concerns personally.
"I sincerely hope that the director-general of the Fisheries Department and Agriculture and Food Security Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu will address this issue and resolve it appropriately to ensure fishermen can continue to earn a living,” he said. – Bernama
