PAHANG ASSURES SUFFICIENT FISH SUPPLIES THROUGHOUT MTL SEASON

KUANTAN, Dec 3 (Bernama) -- The Pahang government has given its assurance that there will be sufficient fish supplies throughout the Northeast Monsoon (MTL) season, which began on Nov 5 and is expected to last until March 2025.

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.

According to him, the RM1.32 billion in fish production showed that Pahang produced or landed about 5,071.92 tonnes of fish per month, which could be marketed outside the state.

“It is an increase of about six per cent in quantity and a 15 per cent rise in value compared to 2022, which recorded 129,522 tonnes worth RM1.15 billion. It is the highest on the east coast, maintaining Pahang’s status as the leader of fisheries on the east coast.

“The marine catch fisheries contributed RM910 million, aquaculture RM354 million, and inland fisheries RM53.5 million in 2023,” he said during the Pahang State Legislative Assembly sitting at Wisma Sri Pahang here today.

He said this in response to a question from Datuk Seri Mohd Johari Hussain (BN-Tioman), who asked about the current status of fish supplies in Pahang following the start of the MTL season in early November.

Meanwhile, Mohd Soffi said the State Department of Fisheries 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 MTL 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 before the monsoon season and reporting to the respective District Fisheries Office if affected by disasters, following procedures like filing police reports, to enable aid from the Agricultural Disaster Fund under the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security to be channelled after the MTL season,” he said.

Based on records, the state government, through the Department of Fisheries, 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 in 2023.

-- BERNAMA