KUCHING, Nov 26: The Ministry of Modernisation of Agriculture, Native Land and Regional Development plans to upgrade all five inland fishery training, research and breeding centres in the state.
Its minister, Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas, said that these centres are in Semariang Batu, Semenggok (both in Kuching), Sri Aman, Betong and Lawas.
“There is a need to upgrade them with all necessary and modern facilities. I can see a huge potential industry in the state for the breeding of fish, prawn and crab,” he said in a statement today. Uggah visited the Semariang Batu Inland Fishery Research and Training Centre here today.
He said with the upgrading, these centres would then be able to support the industry. They would also serve as training and research centres as well as produce fry.
“We are particularly interested in the breedings of prawn, ‘siakap’ and tilapia fish among smallholders as a source of another income to them,” he said.
Uggah added that he would wait for both short and long-term reports from the centres concerned regarding their area development plans to fit in the upgrading initiative.
“I am also waiting for a master plan for the development of inland fishery, focusing on fish, prawn and crab breeding and production culture,” he said.
On Semariang Batu, he said it was once a vibrant training and research centre for ‘udang galah’, ‘siakap’ and ‘terubok’.
“Now the 55-years-old centre is in quite a run-down state,” he lamented. — DayakDaily
