Malaysia's Langkawi Set To Emerge As Biggest Fishing Centre In SEA

ALOR SETAR (Kedah, Malaysia), Sept 11 (Bernama) -- Pulau Langkawi (Langkawi Island) is set to emerge as the largest fisheries centre in Southeast Asia with the launch of a US$12 million massive cage fish cultivation project by Singapore-based Fishance Bhd in collaboration with the Malaysia's northern Kedah state government. Launched in August 2016, the project aimed to produce more than 100,000 tonnes of fish, annually. Women, Development, Agriculture and Agro-Based, Entrepreneur Development, Community Welfare Committee Chairman Suraya Yaacob said the aquaculture company, which specialised in fish farms, was the best partner to make the project a reality. "We want to make Langkawi the biggest fisheries centre in Southeast Asia. About 3,000 fish cages would be immersed in the waters of Pulau Langgun to catch sea bass and snappers. "Approximately 75 per cent of the fish landings will be exported and the remaining 25 per cent will be sold locally,” she told reporters after receiving a mock cheque, on behalf of the state government, for US$308,313 (RM1.295 million) from Fishance Bhd Chief Executive Officer Alexey Dorin, being commitment and royalty fee. Suraya said the state government would ensure that tourism on the island would continue to thrive despite the fisheries project. "Langkawi will continue to remain a tourist centre and it will not be affected by the development of food-based and fish cultivation projects," she said. Meanwhile, Dorin said the state-of-the-art expertise and technology would be utilised to develop the cage fish project and help the state government realise its plan to make Langkawi the largest fisheries centre in the region. "China, Taiwan and the Philippines are famous for their fish farms and it’s time Langkawi become famous as a cage fish cultivation hub,” Suraya added. -- BERNAMA