'Pitas Shrimp Park needs EIA'

KOTA KINABALU: Environmentalists are pressing for an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) before the Pitas Shrimp Park project at a mangrove swamp area in northern Sabah proceeds.

“As far as we are aware, this project has not had its EIA approved,” Sabah Environmental Protection Association (SEPA) president Lanash Thanda claimed.

Previous news reports said park, which is also known as the Pitas Aquaculture project, will be Malaysia’s largest prawn farm.

In a statement yesterday, Thanda said Sabah’s environmental laws, put in place to safeguard the environment, had been disregarded.

The law was clear that there should be no development activities until EIA was approved, she said.

“Mangroves are crucial to our fisheries industry, wildlife and local community who rely on the natural resources available to earn an income,” Thanda said.