Kuala lumpur: Opportunities for Malaysians seeking to earn a living at sea as new fishermen remain open although the freeze on fishing licences has been in effect since 1983 to protect the country's marine resources, said Agriculture and Food Security Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Mohamad Sabu highlighted that under the Zone A Licence Regularisation Programme, existing licences that have been inactive for more than three years will be revoked, with the quota being redistributed to eligible new fishermen. This approach aims to allow them to continue operating legally without adding pressure on the already limited fish resources.

Mohamad Sabu was responding to a query from Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman (MUDA-Muar) about the process of obtaining licences for small-scale fishermen during the Special Chambers session in the Dewan Rakyat. He noted the introduction of an e-Licence system to facilitate fishermen's dealings through special service counters at fisheries offices nationwide. This system enables fishermen to apply for and renew their licences more swiftly, ensuring access to government assistance like diesel subsidies, monsoon season aid, and fisheries community development programmes.

Additionally, Mohamad Sabu mentioned the government's decision to reduce the compound rate for minor offences from RM500 to RM100. This measure is intended to alleviate financial burdens on small-scale fishermen, underscoring the government's commitment to ensuring the sustainability of marine resources and the continuity of fishermen's livelihoods.