Call for sailfish to be listed as endangered species

The Federal Government has been urged to list sailfish (scientific name Istiophorus) as an endangered species.

Pahang Rural Development, Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Committee chairman Datuk Shafik Fauzan Sharif said the fish mostly found in Kuala Rompin must be protected via legislation.

"This species can become extinct because sailfish often get stuck in trawler nets when in fact it is sea surface fish," he said in addressing queries on the welfare of the fish from Datuk Wan Kadri Wan Mahusain (BN-Bukit Ibam) during the state assembly sitting here on Tuesday.

He added that the state government would be enforcing new regulation on fishing limits for trawlers from Jan 1, 2016.

He also said sailfishing was also a tourist attraction in Kuala Rompin with the annual Royal Pahang Billfish International Challenge (RPBIC)a big hit among fishing enthusiasts.

Meanwhile, Pahang Menteri Besar told the assembly that the state government had approved 17 out of 219 applications to extent the lease period for new villages from 60 to 99 years.

He said the applications approved involved new villages in Bentong, Raub, Bera, Cameron Highlands and Temerloh.

The balance 202 applications were still under consideration, he said in reply to a question on the matter from Leong Ngah Ngah (DAP-Tanah Rata).