Fish-bombing: Symposium to submit plan of action
Published on: Friday, May 05, 2017
Kota Kinabalu: The two-day Sabah Anti-Fish-bombing Symposium was concluded on Thursday with a move to submit a plan of action for the State to adopt.Assistant Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Pang Yuk Ming said a central task force committee would be formed to deliberate the plan and assisted by a number of sub-committees that will be formed with specific assignments. He noted all the suggestions and proposals from various groups and agencies, adding that their plans would be further refined through channels that would be set up for the purpose. ADVERTISEMENT "Since everyone has made their case clear, that is to curb fish bombing, we would set up a WhatsApp group for everyone to channel their ideas. I also proposed the setting up of a website as an early public presence, as well as for committee members to keep abreast with the latest action," he said. Pang said this during the end of the symposium where several key individuals had been invited to share their ideas and expertise at a round-table discussion, here, Thursday. According to him, the central committee which he will also chair will be given three months to complete the action plan and that it will be delivered to the Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman sometime in mid-August. He also noted the availability of detectors but believed more work has to be done to fine-tune the action plan, such as community engagement, incentives to fishermen to stop the bombing and alternative method on sustainable fishing, as well as putting explosive materials such as nitrate as a scheduled chemical to curb purchases. ADVERTISEMENT Among others, Pang also said coordination between agencies is also crucial given the complexity of the issue involving the livelihood of fishermen or those depending on marine life as a source of food.Towards this end, he noted there should also be the involvement of the Marine Department, Immigration Department, Customs, Marine Police, Wildlife Department and the Attorney-General office.
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Plans are also afoot to use the US Shotstopper detection technology at the Tun Mustapha Marine Park to collect data and curb fish-bombing. - Jason Santos