By DayakDaily Team
BINTULU, Aug 11: Bintulu could be opening the door to a bigger role in Sarawak’s marine fisheries sector, with its waters yielding catches prized for their quality, freshness, and commercial value.
According to a TVS news report, Sarawak Fisheries Department (JPLS) senior director Abdul Rahman Abdul Wahab said the district had the potential to become one of the State’s major contributors to marine fishery landings.
He said this was evident from the variety of high-value fish species landed at the Bintulu Town Fish Landing Jetty.
“These include grouper, red snapper, white pomfret, Spanish mackerel, and various pelagic species, which have high demand and commercial value,” he said during a field visit to Bintulu to inspect fish landing activities and JPLS operations in the district on Aug 10.
He also stressed the importance of proper post-harvest fish handling to preserve the quality and freshness of the catch.
“Proper post-harvest fish handling is crucial to maintaining freshness, reducing damage, and minimising wastage,” he said.
After inspecting activities at the jetty, Abdul Rahman met with staff at the Bintulu Fisheries Office to discuss developments and challenges facing the local capture fisheries sector.
During the visit, he also presented RM34,530 in assistance under the ‘JPLS Biosecurity Development Project: Hygiene Onboard (HOB)’ to the owner of a Zone C vessel, SF2-3389, in Bintulu.
The assistance aims to improve the vessel’s facilities and hygiene standards while promoting better fish handling practices.
In the afternoon, Abdul Rahman continued his visit to several Cakna MADANI Project sites related to navigation lights and channel markers at Kuala Nyalau in Bintulu, as well as at Kuala Sibuti and Kuala Bakam in Miri.
The inspection focused on the maintenance of existing facilities and proposed new developments to improve safety and support fishing activities in the areas. — DayakDaily
