Fishermen to get HDPE cages after fish wiped out

New beginning: Sim (in white shirt) handing over juvenile fish to fishermen at Kampung Nelayan Kukup in Johor.

PONTIAN: Fourty-four Kukup fishermen who suffered losses close to RM5mil after their fish died due to water pollution recently will receive two High-density polyethylene (HDPE) floating cages.

The HDPE cages, each worth RM50,000 are widely used by fish farmers in developed countries are robust and allows the easy movement of large quantities of fish.

Deputy Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Minister Sim Tze Tzin said the cages would be handed over through the Kukup Fish Breeder Association.

“The fishermen will also be provided with an aerator and 3,000 juvenile fish for them to breed immediately, ” he said after a dialogue with the Kukup Fish Breeder Association at Kampung Nelayan Kukup here.

Sim said the HDPE cages were part of the short term plan to help the fishermen get back on their feet.

“The floating cages will be placed about 2km from the shore where the water is expected to be free of pollution and disease.

“They are convenient for checking and harvesting and can be monitored online, ” he said.

Sim also said that Kukup would be the site for the pilot project on the use of the HDPE floating cages and if successful, it would replace all traditional fish cages.

“The Fish Research Institute will conduct a study for two years to find the best location for the new technology, ” he said.