SEMPORNA: Sabah fishermen associations have been urged to adapt to changes in their organisation in order to expand their contributions economically.
The Malaysian Fisheries Development Authority (LKIM) board member Datuk Abdul Razak Tun Sakaran said they needed to go beyond getting the catch from the sea and venture into processing fishery products or other value-added activities.
“They could also expand their businesses to provide food at homestays,” he said during a recent school assistance presentation for children of fishermen in the district.
Among projects helped by LKIM are in aquaculture under Persatuan Nelayan Kawasan (PNK), which have brought huge returns to the members, he added.
Abdul Razak, who is also Umno Semporna district treasurer, said the associations’ members must have the attitude to look forward as the government continued to extend aid via various programmes.
“LKIM is committed in helping fishermen in Sabah through financial aid as well as training, including offering courses to venture into business.
“It has been proven that PNKs in Semporna, Sandakan, Lahad Datu, Kunak, Tawau and Kota Kinabalu had received positive feedbacks from its members. We hope our programmes have also led them to be adventurous to tap the local or even global markets,” he said.
About 14 PNKs and 636 fishermen entrepreneurs are active in agriculture tourism that involves fishing, chalets, handicraft and homestays nationwide.