Irmohizam (second left) picks up fresh prawns brought in by local fishermen during a visit to LKIM Tanjung Bako Fishery Complex. — Photos by Chimon Upon
A fisherman (left) chats with Irmohizam who is leading an entourage to inspect the progress of LKIM Tanjung Bako Fishery Complex.
Fishermen (from left) Saleh Mos from Kampung Muhibah Pending and Peri Salleh from Kampung Tanjung Bako unload their catch at the new and modern Tanjung Bako port.
The entrance of the new LKIM Tanjung Bako Fishery Complex which boasts some of the most modern facilities in fish processing.
The high ceiling hallway to facilitate unloading of catches.
KPDNKK KL director Datuk Muez Abdul Aziz (third left) presents a certificate of approval to a representative of Sri Muara Fishermen Association, witnessed by Irmohizam (fourth left) and others.
KUCHING: Fishermen landing their catches at the new and modern Malaysian Fisheries Development Authority (LKIM) Tanjung Bako Fishery Complex will be given incentives.
LKIM chairman Datuk Seri Dr Irmohizam Ibrahim said this would encourage unloading of catches at the integrated fish landing port and drive optimal utilisation of its facilities.
“For each landing of catches at the port, Class C2 (deep sea) fishing trawlers will be given incentive of 20 sen per kg while boats with Class C licence and below will be given landing incentive of 10 sen per kg,” he said.
“All along there has been no such incentives but the initiative is introduced to make LKIM Tanjung Bako Fishery Complex a central point for fish landing and encourage operators and fishermen to fully utilise this modern complex,” he added.
The complex, he assured, would be equipped with basic facilities to meet the needs of fishermen around Kuching and Tanjung Bako, including ice block factory and bunkerage (diesel and petrol refuelling station).
Irmohizam said this during a visit to inspect the LKIM Tanjung Bako Fishery Complex to ensure its smooth progress and infrastructure compliance yesterday.
“Ultimately, it will be one of the ports with facility to store frozen fresh fish stocks, a base that will guarantee the supply of this primary source of protein for the country,” he said.
Noting that the ice block factory is important to the fishermen, he urged the National Fishermen Association to speed up the construction of the facility located at phase two of the project.
“Also, the Ministry of Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism (KPDNKK) has approved the construction of a bunkerage for the convenience of fishermen to refuel by Sri Muara Fishermen Association,” he added.
Overall, he expressed satisfaction with the progress of the complex, which is almost fully completed.
“Sarawak is very fortunate because this port is among the biggest in Malaysia and could be the most comprehensive with modern facilities for fish processing in the Southeast Asian region,” he said.
On the way forward, he said efforts must be made to ensure the sustainability of the complex which will be managed by Sarawak Fishermen Association and jointly supervised with LKIM.
“I look forward to more discussions with the board and relevant agencies and departments to ensure the complex will not become a ‘white elephant’.
“But instead turn it into an iconic feature for Sarawak, benefitting all the local fishermen across Sarawak and enhance the fishing industry in the Southeast Asian region particularly surrounding Tanjung Bako,” he added.
Sitting on 42.5 acres of land, the RM247.8million LKIM Tanjung Bako Fishery Complex boasts some of the most modern facilities for fish processing in the nation.
The first phase consists of buildings for marketing hall, admin block, net loft, fish box storage, canteen (two blocks), fishermen market, multipurpose hall, surau and fuel farm as well as jetties for fishermen to land their catch and berthing facilities.
The second phase, of which construction is still ongoing, features seafood restaurants, hostel, shipyard and syncrolift, workshops, processing plant, whole seller market and ice block factory.