The Penang authorities plans to construct a brand new tuna and deep-sea fishing port within the state, which meets worldwide requirements, to extend tuna landings.
State Agrotechnology, Meals Safety and Cooperative Improvement Committee chairman Fahmi Zainol mentioned the federal government has recognized an space in Bagan Ajam for the brand new tuna port and discussions are already underway.
“The state has earmarked land in Bagan Ajam for the event of the brand new port, with an estimated improvement price range of RM150 million to RM300 million.
“We’re at present in talks with a number of traders for funding,” he mentioned.
He added that, based mostly on the timeline, the port may very well be accomplished inside one-and-a-half to 2 years, pending technical approval from the District Land Workplace and different related businesses, in addition to non-public sector allocation.
“We hope the brand new port can revive the glory days of Penang’s tuna business, very similar to the Nineteen Nineties,” he advised Bernama as we speak.
Fahmi highlighted a number of advantages of the brand new port, together with its unique give attention to tuna fishing, which means tuna vessels is not going to need to compete for docking area with industrial ships.
The port can even supply decrease fees, because it is not going to function on a industrial foundation.
Concerning competitors, he mentioned that tuna ships wouldn’t have to compete for docking area as a result of the brand new port could be devoted solely to tuna landings.
It’s anticipated to draw international tuna ships as a consequence of its user-friendly services.
The brand new port will meet European Union (EU) requirements and can embody particular services tailor-made particularly for tuna fishing, in contrast to present ports, which provide basic services and lack give attention to tuna landings.
“In response to preliminary knowledge from the Malaysian Fisheries Division, the whole tuna landings in Penang final 12 months have been 431,000kg, valued at RM7.758 million.
“The primary touchdown level is at present the Butterworth deep-water wharf,” Fahmi mentioned.
He additionally famous that Malaysian vessels had landed tuna in Mauritius final 12 months, with a complete of 4,295,758kg of tuna, together with 3,749,478kg from native vessels.
Up to now this 12 months, the whole tuna landings in Penang, together with international vessels, have reached 1,445,120 kg, with an estimated worth of RM26 million.
Fahmi believes that with the devoted tuna port in Bagan Ajam, tuna landings may improve by 30 to 50 per cent inside 5 years of its operation.
He additionally envisions Penang changing into a tuna processing hub, the place international vessels can land their catch for processing earlier than exporting it to Taiwan or Japan.
Supply: Bernama
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