Local tuna industry falls short

GEORGE TOWN: Only 33 Malaysian tuna vessels are plying the Indian Ocean, far short of the 103-ship quota approved for the country by the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC).

Malaysian Fisheries Department director-general Datuk Ahamad Sabki Mahmood said if Malaysia did not take up the quota which was approved in 2002 and effective till 2012, there would be a problem asking for a bigger fleet allowance in future.