ID :
712336
Mon, 08/31/2026 - 08:10
Auther :
BERNAMA
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/712336
The shortlink copeid

Malaysia-Vietnam Cooperation Could Produce More Local Fishing Skippers

By Nabilah Saleh

SERDANG (Selangor, Malaysia), Aug 31 (Bernama) -- Malaysia and Vietnam could tap cooperation in the fisheries industry to produce more skilled local fishing skippers and encourage young people to pursue careers in the sector as professionals, the National Fishermen's Association (NEKMAT) said.

 

NEKMAT general manager Azrin Shah Ismail said the proposed cooperation was being explored with the Department of Fisheries and the Malaysian Fisheries Development Authority (LKIM), with NEKMAT participating as an industry player.

 

He said discussions were still at an early stage, with any potential cooperation needing to take into account laws, resource sustainability, environmental considerations and the interests of local fishermen.

 

"Among the areas that can be explored is tuna fishing on the high seas, outside the Exclusive Economic Zone, as well as the landing and processing of the catch in Malaysia.

 

"The cooperation could also allow skills and technology to be transferred to the local workforce," he told Bernama at the Malaysia Agriculture, Horticulture and Agrotourism Exhibition (MAHA) 2026 at the Malaysia Agro Exposition Park Serdang (MAEPS) here Monday. 

 

Azrin Shah said Vietnam had more advanced experience and technology in deep-sea fishing, while Malaysia had the potential to further develop the downstream processing industry for fisheries products.

 

He said landing and processing catches in Malaysia could create land-based employment opportunities while helping to produce highly skilled local fishing skippers through training and skills transfer.

 

"We are indeed facing a serious shortage of local fishing skippers. We need to step up efforts to make fishing a professional career," he said.

 

According to him, the government could also consider Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) programmes or internationally recognised certification to enable Malaysians to work and gain experience aboard tuna vessels in countries such as Japan and South Korea.

-- BERNAMA

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