Malaysia: Fishermen netting bigger catches thanks to artificial reefs

Ruben Sario The Star 21 Jun 13;

KOTA KINABALU: Fishermen are landing bigger catches, thanks to the 518 artificial reefs installed in waters off 14 coastal districts around Sabah over the past five years.

Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Yahya Hussin said the concrete reefs, weighing between six and 30 tonnes each, were a big help to the fishermen.

'Some reported that their incomes had risen from RM50 to RM200 per trip,'' he said in reply to Limus Jury (BN-Kuala Penyu).

He said the artificial reefs had helped to increase the population of marine life such as lobsters, sharks, snappers, groupers and trevalleys.

Yahya said the reefs, costing more than RM4.4mil, had now become key fishing grounds for coastal folk in districts such as Sipitang, Kuala Penyu, Beaufort, Papar, Kota Kinabalu, Tuaran, Lahad Datu, Tawau and Semporna.

“The artificial reefs also served as barriers that prevented trawlers from venturing into coastal areas that were fishing grounds for traditional fishermen,” he said.

Special Functions Minister Datuk Teo Chee Kang said the state's financial grants for Chinese and private schools had steadily increased from RM10mil in 2009 to more than RM12.4mil last year.

Responding to a question from Hiew King Chew (DAP-Luyang), he said the state government provided such grants to improve the standard of education in those schools.