Dept uses artificial reefs to boost fish production

Published: July 21, 2008

Source : The Star online (Malaysia)

Artificial reefs have been identified as among the means to boost the fish population and meet the national fish production target of two million tonnes a year.

Fisheries Department director general Datuk Junaidi Che Ayub said it was among the measures taken to overcome a depletion of marine resources and prevent trawlers from encroaching the shoreline to catch fish.

“This means of rehabilitating marine resources and habitats has proven effective.

“It will deter fishing vessels with trawl nets or dragnets from moving to the shoreline especially during the monsoon season as their nets will be damaged if they're caught in the reefs,” he told reporters before releasing 16 tetrapod artificial reefs in Cherok Paloh here recently.

Each concrete tetrapod cost RM10,000.

Junaidi said it would take 18 months for the area to be turned into a fishing ground.

Earlier in his speech, Junaidi said that fishermen could increase their incomes by increasing catches and using fishing grounds as eco-tourism products.

They could bring in tourists for fishing like in Kedah where fishermen charged RM400 for a trip and RM800 for those who wanted to spend a night at sea, he added.

“They make a different kind of catch and earn good money,” he said.

Junaidi also said that RM9.4mil had been set aside for the artificial reef programme under the Ninth Malaysian Plan.

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Dept uses artificial reefs to boost fish production