LABUAN – The Agriculture and Food Industries Ministry (MAFI) will devolve authority to the director of the Sabah Fisheries Department to approve Class C2 deep-sea fishing licences from December 1.
Its minister, Datuk Seri Ronald Kiandee said the devolution of power was in line with the development of the fisheries sector in the country.
“Previously, licences were approved by the Malaysian Fisheries Department director-general, but following discussions (at the ministry level), the government had decided to delegate this power to the director of the Sabah Fisheries Department,” he told reporters after a visit to a tuna processing factory in Jalan Patau-Patau near here yesterday.
Kiandee said that the devolution of power was done to speed up the licence approval process and improve the deep-sea fishing industry in the state.
“There is still room in the deep-sea fishing industry to explore and develop in future.”
He said the downstream production process has not been widely developed.
“There have been various issues raised by the downstream industry players, including marketing, and these problems will be given due attention.
“We need the support and involvement of fisheries industry players to help us realise the government’s hope to see the deep-sea fisheries industry developed sustainably,” he added.
Meanwhile, he added that the fisheries industry in the country is still able to meet domestic needs and further contribute to the gross domestic product. – Bernama, November 22, 2021
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