Malaysia to produce three million tonnes of fish by 2020

Its director-general Datuk Ismail Abu Hassan said Malaysia was currently producing two million tonnes of fish worth RM13.02 billion.

“The effort to boost fish production from the sea and aquaculture is crucial to reduce the import of protein sources by 300,000 tonnes or RM3.6 billion a year compared to RM2.7 billion in fish export,” he told reporters at the Kelantan Aquaculture Industry Consultative Council Meeting and handing-over of El Nino aid, here, Wednesday.

Also present were Kelantan Fisheries Department director Anuar Salam Sulaiman and Fisheries Department Bio-security Division senior director Marzuki Hashim.

Ismail said the target could be achieved by increasing the number of aquaculture entrepreneurs nationwide via numerous programmes and initiatives planned under the Agriculture and Agro-Based Industry Ministry.