KUALA NERUS: Fishermen in Seberang Takir welcomed the government’s announcement to raise the monthly allowance to RM250 but it will not solve major problems such as encroachment by trawlers along coastal fishing grounds.
In addition, the fuel subsidy need to be increased as most of the coastal fishermen had to top up with their hard earned cash to support the costs of buying fuel, which further reduces their take home income.
Alwi Azmi, 37, said although the subsidy has been set at RM1.65 per litre and set to a ceiling purchase of 45 litres and 55 litres depending on the engine capacity, most fishermen had to top up the fuel because of the uncertainty of landing fish.
“Most days we could hardly cover the costs for fuel and even if we had a good catch we could barely breakeven,” he said when asked to comment on the increase to the fishermen’s allowance announce in the 2020 Budget.
“The increase in allowance helps but the government need to seriously check the activity of trawlers fishing within the off limit zone meant for coastal fishermen. Otherwise the resources would be depleted and coastal fishermen will suffer.
“We went out to sea six days a week and it will be of no benefit to us with fuel spent and no fish to take to port,” he added.
Ahmad Muharram Embong, 20, said the monthly allowance would cushion any shortfall in his income but to make fishermen like him happy and earn more the government need to take deterrent action against trawlers who encroached into coastal fishing grounds.
“We go out to sea at 5am and return to port at 6pm, and we spend between RM150 and RM180 every day. If we cannot catch fish worth the amount then we will not be able to take home any income and the situation gets worse when we cannot go fishing during bad weather,” he said.
He added that asking the fishermen to venture into agriculture would be futile as they do now own sizeable land.
“We can grow one or two coconut trees in our compound but that is all,” he said.
