SUPRATECHNIC Malaysia, a wholly owned subsidiary of Singapore-based Supratechnic Pte Ltd, has signed a collaboration agreement with Icelandic fisheries technology outfit GreenFish hf to introduce Afli, an artificial intelligence (AI)-powered fishing app for small-scale fishermen in the Asean region.
Under the agreement, the Shah Alam-based Supratechnic Malaysia, which is an established distributor of marine engines, equipment, spare parts and related technical services, is appointed exclusive distributor of Afli, which is developed by GreenFish in Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia.
SuprAI Capital Pte Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of Singapore Exchange-listed USP Group Ltd leads the group’s direction for Afli by working with GreenFish on localisation, the pilot project and the development of new features, while Supratechnic Malaysia markets and sells the app and supports fishermen through its branch network.
Afli combines AI, satellite observations and oceanographic data to highlight areas where fish are more likely to be found, with predictions refreshed at least every six hours.
As each highlighted area comes with the reasons behind it, fishermen can weigh the prediction against their own experience. Predictions are stored on the phone for use at sea outside mobile coverage.
The app will be available in Bahasa Malaysia and English for the pilot with Simplified Chinese before commercial launch and Bahasa Indonesia to follow.
Additionally, GreenFish and Supratechnic are also developing trip-safety features for Afli, including a trip plan that alerts a nominated shore contact with the boat’s last known position if a fisherman has not checked in on time and an emergency (SOS) function.
For Malaysia’s inshore fishermen ( a.k.a. nelayan kecil, fuel, labour, and time) represent high operating costs, with the outcome of each trip remaining uncertain while much of their work is carried out in small boats beyond mobile coverage.
According to the Department of Statistics Malaysia, the country recorded approximately 1.39 million tonnes of marine fish landings in 2024, thus highlighting the sector’s importance to the nation’s food supply and to the livelihoods of coastal communities.
On this note, Afli is intended to complement national efforts to support the fishing community, which is highlighted most recently in Budget 2027.
As it is, the Madani government has allocated RM178 mil for measures including catch incentives and a monthly cost-of-living allowance of up to RM300 for fishermen alongside continued diesel subsidies for those eligible.
Against this backdrop, greater operating efficiency and technology adoption offer a practical, complementary approach to building long-term economic resilience in the sector.
“For many of our fishermen, each trip means spending on fuel, time and labour without knowing where the fish will be, often in small boats beyond the reach of a mobile signal,” commented Supratechnic Malaysia’s CEO Melvin Tan.
"As such, Afli puts AI-powered predictions on the phone they already carry alongside the knowledge they’ve built up over generations.
"With GreenFish, we’re also developing trip-safety features such as an alert to family ashore if a boat has not returned on time, which will be reviewed carefully before they are released.
"We want the smallest boats in our coastal villages to benefit, and we’ll work with fishermen’s associations to make that possible."
Supratechnic intends to make Afli affordable for small-scale Malaysian inshore fishermen, especially those from B40 households.
It plans to work with fishermen’s associations on group subscriptions for their members so that fishermen can use the app on their own phones without investing in specialised hardware.
Baldur S. Blondal, the CEO of GreenFish, said he is also confident that the new system can help fishermen in Malaysia save up to 35% of energy costs, especially when it comes to diesel.
"We have done it in Europe, especially in Iceland and Norway, and we are confident of repeating this feat in Malaysia. One of the biggest assets of Afli is that it really can save high energy costs that fishermen have to put up with," said Blondal.
The collaboration begins with a free pilot for 150 to 200 fishermen selected from at least three Supratechnic branches on the east and west coasts of Peninsular Malaysia.
Running for four to six months so that it covers the monsoon season, the pilot will measure prediction accuracy against the fishing grounds fishermen would otherwise have chosen as well as the fuel and time spent locating fish.
Afli will then be offered to fishermen across Malaysia through Supratechnic’s branches in Penang, Sitiawan, Shah Alam, Muar, Kuala Terengganu, Kuantan and Mersing, and later in Singapore and Indonesia.
