The Star 12 Sep 17;
BUTTERWORTH: The Agriculture and Agro-based Industries Ministry hopes to achieve a nationwide catch of 130,000 tonnes of tuna worth RM1bil, cumulatively from now until 2020.
Its minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek said the ministry, through the Fisheries Department’s efforts, is also looking forward to catching RM300mil worth of tuna from the Indian Ocean alone over the same period, by issuing licences to 135 vessels.
“The ministry, through the Fisheries Department, has issued licences to 17 vessels and approved 93 permits for companies to buy or build new fishing vessels.
“The majority of tuna caught in Malaysia at present are of the skipjack and longtail species, and we are hoping to increase the landing of deep-sea species such as bigeye, albacore and yellowfin,” he said at a tuna landing ceremony at Dermaga Air Dalam here yesterday.
“As of early September, 1,100 tonnes of the fish have been landed in Penang, so achieving the target is possible, through the combined efforts of the public and private sector.
“Malaysia has two ports registered with the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC), namely Dermaga Air Dalam and Tanjung Lembung in Langkawi, Kedah,” he said.
The IOTC is an intergovernmental body that coordinates the management of tuna stocks in the Indian Ocean.
Earlier, Ahmad Shabery also witnessed the landing of 520 tonnes of albacore, yellowfin and bigeye tuna worth RM8mil from a vessel owned by Kha Yang Marine Sdn Bhd.
Also present were Penang Port Commission chairman Datuk Tan Teik Cheng, Fisheries Department director-general Munir Mohd Nawi and Fisheries Development Authority of Malaysia deputy director-general Hashim Rahman.
Shabery confident Penang Port will achieve this year's tuna fish haul target
MOHAMED BASYIR New Straits Times 11 Sep 17;
BUTTERWORTH: The Ministry of Agriculture and Agro-based Industries targets a total of 3,000 metric tonnes of tuna fish to be landed at the Penang Port here by year’s end.
Its minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek told newsmen that the goal is attainable, as to date, 1,100 metric tonnes of tuna has been landed at the port.
"The Ministry's target is achievable considering how much has been landed here, with the help of the federal government and the private sector.
"The 3,000 metric tonnes of tuna fish (we are aiming for is) valued at RM60 million," he said at the launch of the tuna fish landing at Dermaga Air Dalam Penang Port by Kha Yang 333 vessel today.
Shabery said that the Ministry is also confident of reaching the 130,000 metric tonnes of tuna fish target, valued at RM1 billion, to be landed in Malaysia, including at the port in Labuan, by the year 2020.
Also present during the event were Penang Port Commission (PPC) chairman Datuk Tan Teik Cheng and Fisheries Department director Datuk Munir Mohd Nawi.
