LABUAN: The Agriculture and Meals Industries Ministry will develop the tuna fishing trade within the nation with the lively involvement of deep-sea fishing trade gamers.
Its Minister Datuk Seri Ronald Kiandee mentioned the Tuna Trade Growth Strategic Plan 2021-2030 (10 years) had been drafted in realising his ministry’s aspirations.
“The tuna fishing trade has nice potential as a brand new supply of nationwide wealth to be developed in Sabah and Labuan, in step with the transformation and growth of the fisheries sector beneath the Nationwide Agrofood Coverage 2.0 (DAN 2.0),” he mentioned on the engagement session with senior tuna trade gamers at a lodge on Sunday (Nov 21).
He referred to as on present traders and trade gamers to open factories and function tuna vessels, in addition to to show Labuan right into a tuna hub servicing markets in Peninsular Malaysia and overseas.
“Cooperation between the federal government and the non-public sector is essential to make sure that the tuna trade continues to develop within the nation and profit all events.
Kiandee additionally mentioned the advantages will not be restricted to tuna fishing actions solely, but in addition varied different providers alongside the tuna trade worth chain akin to ports, transportation, storage and processing.
Malaysia ought to take the chance as a member of the Indian Ocean Tuna Fee (IOTC) to ship extra fishing vessels to catch tuna within the Indian Ocean and encourage extra tuna vessels to land in Malaysia, he added.
“The federal government additionally intends to hitch one other worldwide fisheries administration organisation that manages tuna sources within the Pacific Ocean, the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Fee (WCPFC), aside from the IOTC, which Malaysia joined in 1998,” he mentioned.
Kiandee mentioned participation within the WCPFC would allow Malaysia to spice up its tuna trade and deep-sea fisheries.
As of October 2021, a complete of 20 tuna vessels, 19 tuna fishing vessels and a tuna provider vessel have been licensed and have been working within the Indian Ocean.
“The federal government is hoping that as much as 74 Malaysian-flagged tuna fishing vessels will function within the Indian Ocean by 2030 in step with the overall quota allotted by the IOTC,” he mentioned
“There are nonetheless 54 quotas that haven’t been utilized for, and the federal government welcomes trade gamers to use for permits and get entangled within the tuna fishing trade within the Indian Ocean,” added Kiandee. – Bernama
