GEORGE TOWN – The Agriculture and Food Industries Ministry is evaluating proposals to establish a collaboration between the government and private sectors to upgrade the tuna landing port, in an effort to develop the country's tuna industry.
Minister Datuk Seri Ronald Kiandee said collaboration between the government and private sectors is important to ensure the tuna industry in Malaysia can benefit all parties and attract more foreign direct investment.
“The benefits to be gained are not limited only to tuna fishing activities. Various other services along the tuna industry value chain can be developed such as ports, transportation, storage, processing, and others.
“The tuna fishing industry in Malaysia is growing and developing as one of the country’s new sources of wealth,” he told reporters after the launching ceremony of Ibu Wira 1, a Zone C3 tuna fishing vessel carrying the Malaysian flag here today.
He said that in 2016, the Fisheries Department had listed two ports in the country as tuna landing ports for vessels operating in the Indian Ocean, namely Penang and Langkawi.
However, he said both ports are less competitive compared with ports in other countries and the government is evaluating the industry’s needs in term of facilities as well as how the downstream industries could be created.
He said the proposed development of a tuna landing port, especially at Batu Maung Jetty, would be in line with the ministry's intention to increase the entry of tuna vessels into the port and boost tuna landings in Malaysia.
“Up to 2020, a total of 19 tuna fishing vessels and a tuna carrier vessel have been licensed and operating in the Indian Ocean with a total catch of 3,005.13 tonnes worth RM40 million.
“Of total tuna landings, Penang Port records landings of 1,943.84 tonnes worth RM28 million,” he added. – Bernama, April 12, 2021
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