SEGAMAT – The Johor government plans to add floating jetties in selected locations in the state, especially those at risk of floods and high tides, to help inland fishermen and reduce damage to permanent jetties.
State Agriculture, Agro-based Industry and Rural Development Committee chairman Datuk Zahari Sarip said his office along with the state Fisheries Department and the local fishermen’s associations were identifying locations for floating jetties.
He said the decision was made after observing that the existing floating jetties had to some extent helped the fishermen in times of need.
“As of now, four floating jetties have been completed in the Batu Pahat, Kota Tinggi, Muar and Segamat districts.
“This year, we plan to build another floating jetty in Segamat and one in Kota Tinggi,” he told reporters after visiting the floating jetty construction site in Kg Seberang Batu Badak here, accompanied by Johor Fisheries Department director Zainudin Abd Wahab.
Zahari added that the floating jetty would take about three months to build, and once completed, the fishermen would have a special place to land their catches and place their boats in a more orderly manner.
On the latest jetty to be built at the rivermouth of Sg Segamat at a cost of around RM100,000, he said it would benefit about 40 inland fishermen living around Kg Seberang Batu Badak.
Meanwhile, the Buluh Kasap assemblyman said several other initiatives to help inland fishermen were also implemented by the state government and related agencies, such as releasing 600,000 fish fry in the rivers in the state and 70,000 shrimp fry in Sg Muar, near Kg Muar Awat near here last year.
“We are also planning to carry out a cage fish farming project involving baung fish in Muar, for which we have identified participants,” he said. – Bernama, February 20, 2023
