The federal government has allocated RM588,400 from 2021 to 2024 for 181 participants, primarily fishermen, involved in the myKomuniti Perikanan (myKP) programme in Melaka, the State Assembly was told today.
State Rural Development, Agriculture, and Food Security Committee chairman Datuk Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh said the programme offers targeted assistance for aquaculture projects, facility upgrades for fishery product production, and the installation of artificial reefs in fish breeding areas.
"In addition, fishermen holding valid licenses for vessels and fishing equipment from the Melaka Fisheries Department are allowed to carry passengers, provided they obtain approval from the Marine Department Director," he stated.
Dr. Muhamad Akmal also highlighted plans to involve fishermen’s children interested in diving, offering training and Open Water Diving Course licenses. This initiative, supported by allocations from the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, aims to strengthen the fishing community,” he said.
He was responding to a question from Tumah Kadi @ Mohd Hashim (BN-Pantai Kundor) regarding measures to help fishermen at Pantai Puteri increase their income, following the failure to instal artificial reefs in the area.
Dr Muhamad Akmal (BN-Merlimau) said the state government had also gazetted the waters off Jasin as an Aquaculture Industrial Zone for shellfish rearing as a source of side income for fishermen in the area.