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BUKIT GANTANG – Bureaucratic problems and a weakness in the delivery system have been identified as among the factors that contribute to the fish supply shortage in the country.
Malaysian Fisheries Development Authority (LKIM) chairman Datuk Syed Abu Hussin Hafiz Syed Abdul Fasal said the shortage of fish would continue if these issues were not addressed properly.
“This situation has also led to the increase in fish prices,” he told a press conference at the LKIM chairman’s Hari Raya Aidilfitri celebration at Dewan Bunga Raya, Changkat Jering last night.
On May 22, National Fishermen’s Association chairman Abdul Hamid Bahari said the number of fish landings, especially in northern Peninsular Malaysia, had decreased by 70%, from more than a million tonnes to about 300,000 tonnes a month due to unpredictable weather conditions over the past two months.
Syed Abu Hussin said the issue of fish supply shortage had also been brought to the attention of the Agriculture and Food Industries Ministry, Finance Ministry and the Economic Planning Unit, but there had been no response so far.
“Up till now, LKIM has not started storing fish despite having frozen fish storage facilities. Frozen fish can last up to two years,” he said.
Syed Abu Hussin said preparations should be made by buying more fish for storage due to the low fish stocks. – Bernama, May 28, 2022