KUALA TERENGGANU, May 21 (Bernama) -- The Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security today launched a vessel for the training of a skilled and competent local fisheries workforce to meet the needs of the country’s modern fisheries industry.
The ministry’s secretary-general Datuk Seri Isham Ishak said the vessel, named FTV Fomalhaut and launched at MSET Shipbuilding Corporation Sdn Bhd (MSET) here, will be placed at the Sultan Nazrin Muizzuddin Shah Fisheries College (KPSN) in Manjung, Perak for training purposes.
He said the 26-metre training vessel, built by MSET at a cost of RM9.29 million under a 12th Malaysia Plan allocation, is capable of accommodating 25 people at a time.
“It will be fully utilised through a learning approach comprising 30 per cent theory and 70 per cent practical skills.
“Through the training, trainees will be directly exposed to the entire chain of actual capture fisheries operations, including vessel handling, basic navigation, purse seine operations, catch handling, the use of modern fisheries technology, as well as safety aspects and operational procedures at sea,” he said in a statement today.
Isham said the field-based experiential training approach is expected to enhance trainees’ competency, discipline and confidence before entering the actual industry, while supporting the development of a more modern, high-technology and sustainable fisheries sector in the country.
Meanwhile, he said the launch of the strategic asset is in line with the aspirations of the National Agrofood Policy 2.0 Pillar Three, which focuses on transforming the national agrofood sector into a sustainable, resilient and high-technology industry through talent development that meets industry demand.
He said it would serve as a platform to strengthen human capital development in the national fisheries sector and support the country’s food security agenda.
“The capture fisheries sector remains among the main contributors to the nation’s fish supply, with production exceeding 1.2 million metric tonnes annually. Therefore, the development of highly skilled human capital is crucial to ensure the sector remains sustainable, resilient and capable of supporting the country’s food security,” he said.
He said the 26-metre training vessel, built by MSET at a cost of RM9.29 million under a 12th Malaysia Plan allocation, is capable of accommodating 25 people at a time.
“It will be fully utilised through a learning approach comprising 30 per cent theory and 70 per cent practical skills.
“Through the training, trainees will be directly exposed to the entire chain of actual capture fisheries operations, including vessel handling, basic navigation, purse seine operations, catch handling, the use of modern fisheries technology, as well as safety aspects and operational procedures at sea,” he said in a statement today.
Isham said the field-based experiential training approach is expected to enhance trainees’ competency, discipline and confidence before entering the actual industry, while supporting the development of a more modern, high-technology and sustainable fisheries sector in the country.
Meanwhile, he said the launch of the strategic asset is in line with the aspirations of the National Agrofood Policy 2.0 Pillar Three, which focuses on transforming the national agrofood sector into a sustainable, resilient and high-technology industry through talent development that meets industry demand.
He said it would serve as a platform to strengthen human capital development in the national fisheries sector and support the country’s food security agenda.
“The capture fisheries sector remains among the main contributors to the nation’s fish supply, with production exceeding 1.2 million metric tonnes annually. Therefore, the development of highly skilled human capital is crucial to ensure the sector remains sustainable, resilient and capable of supporting the country’s food security,” he said.