Tag - Environment

Kota Kinabalu: Sabah will become probably the nation's biggest producer of prawns (shrimps) worth RM3 billion yearly that will contribute around RM1.5 billion to the Gross National Income by 2020. This follows the RM1.12b invested by four pioneering companies to spur the shrimp aquaculture project, with 30 per cent of the total value contributed by the Federal Government. State Agriculture and Food Industry Assistant Minister Datuk Bobby Ahfang Suan told Kapayan Assemblyman Edwin Bosi at the State Assembly, Wednesday, that Sabah is one of the biggest recipients of government funds to develop its aquaculture sub-sector under the NKEA-Agriculture Programme. "The four companies were appointed and approved by the government to receive funding under the Entry Point Project for integrated ponds shrimp rearing in Sabah," he said. They are Syarikat Sunlight Inno Seafood Sdn Bhd that invested RM963.64m on 2,200 hectares in Pitas, Syarikat KB Aquaculture (RM21.73m on 40.44ha in Kota Belud), Pegagau Aquaculture Sdn Bhd (RM77.01m in Tawau) and QL Aquamarine Sdn Bhd (RM56m on 243ha in Kudat. "The price of white shrimp in the estate is between RM25 and RM28 per kg. Taking into account the estimated production of these four companies of about 110,870 tonnes until 2020." Bobby said project developers are required to come up with their own investment funds prior to developing their integrated project, including building the rearing ponds and creating hatchery centre and plant to process the shrimps. The integrated implementation of the projects through Blue Ocean Strategy and Blue Economy approach will ensure the creation of job opportunities to locals. The four companies would be able to create 4,351 jobs in various categories once the projects are completed. "In 2013, Sabah produced around 11,700 tonnes worth RM187.1 million of white shrimp while in 2014, production increased to 18,900 tonnes worth RM321.08m, a drastic increase of 38 per cent. "This year, production will continue to rise to more than 30,000 metric tonnes with the increased production of the four pioneering companies," he said. Meanwhile, Special Tasks Minister Datuk Teo Chee Kang said strong commitment from all members of the Bimp-Eaga as well as private sector is needed to realise the vision of the four-nation coalition in implementing its five strategic initiatives. "The implementation of these initiatives is very important because Bimp-Eaga is one of the critical building blocks to realise the Asean Economic Community (AEC)," he said when replying to Bongawan Assemblyman Mohamad Alamin. The coalition, aimed to narrow the development gap between Asean countries, comprises Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines, has a long term objective of developing the Bimp-Eaga region that has about 70 million population. "Bimp-Eaga also aims to increase trade, tourism and investment within and outside of Bimp-Eaga and has the role to ease the mobility of the population, goods and services, develop efficient public infrastructure and ensure effective natural resource management and utilise fully the economic strength of Bimp-Eaga member nations," he said. Since its establishment, Teo said the coalition had successfully increased air connectivity between member nations, developed ICT sector such as the ICT Rural Outreach Programme, established the Bimp-Eaga Unit on Tourism Development in UMS with the aim of transforming it into an excellence centre in tourism development research and the Heart of Borneo programme, managed by Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia and NGOs to conserve the biodiversity resources in Bimp-Eaga, especially in Borneo. Source: Daily Express

Kota Kinabalu: The Tourism, Culture and Environment Ministry through Sabah Parks will station enforcement officers at the Tun Mustapha Marine Park in Kudat as soon as it is gazetted next year. However, Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun said it would be a challenge as the park is about one million hectares in size. "The area is huge and it is situated near the border of the Philippines but I assure you all that we will try our best to have the area secured. "I am saying this not to give an excuse that this cannot be done but as a reminder to all of you that it is easier said than done," he said during the question and answer session at the State Assembly sitting, here, Thursday. Masidi said this in relation to the turtle hunting and smuggling activities where 19 turtle carcasses were found in Pulau Tiga on March 5 this year. The incident was believed to have occurred for the second time as 60 turtle carcasses were found on March 2014 at the same place. Meanwhile, according to Assistant Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Kamarlin Ombi, the Ministry will collaborate with non-governmental and other government agencies to curb turtle smuggling activities in the State. "The Ministry has formed a task force involving those from the Wildlife Department, Eastern Sabah Security Command (Esscom), Maritime Enforcement Agency, Sabah Parks, Sabah Fisheries Department, World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Malaysia, Marine Police, Malaysian Armed Forces, Customs Department as well as Civil Defence Department to increase our effort in countering turtle smuggling activities in Sabah," he said. He explained that the agencies involved will cooperate as well as individually work to locate and prevent the hunt of turtles. "We have to admit that the issue cannot be easily curbed because Pulau Tiga is situated 10 kilometres from the Philippines maritime border. Mangsee Island in the Philippines which is believed to be the smuggling centre between Sabah and Palawan is also situated about 35 kilometres from Pulau Tiga," Masidi said. According to him, the situation is challenging because smugglers can easily come and go as it is near their border. Meanwhile, Rural Development Minister Radin Maleh said the government has no plans to change the process of appointment for village security and development committees or to add on to the current 50 committees and four Urban Development Committees (JKDB) in Inanam district. Source: Daily Express