Now the common people in Australia will be required to declare the origin of the fish, especially if it is smaller from the size specified by the law, and if it is caught by them they have to show their licence to catch the fish, otherwise they will be slapped with a hefty fine. Although the Sarawak government may not adopt such a policy, it may introduce something similar in order to sustain fishery resources in the state. Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Dr George Chan, explained that the fishery industry in Perth was ‘very advance and the authorities are very strict’.
At the launching of the EU-EAGA Biz-Tech Partnership Project at Wisma Bapa Malaysia in Petra Jaya Dr Chan told that in Perth a fishery officer has more power than a policeman. He can just go to your house and say: ‘I want you to open your refrigerator, show me your fridge’, without a warrant. According to Dr Chan if anyone caught fishing abalone in large amount without a licence and during the off-season, he can be thrown into jail.
He also informed that the government is now finalizing same stringent policy on fishing which makes the fishing industry more sustainable. He added that we are not serious as we don’t believe in over-fishing and trawling, and we are thinking very seriously of how to limit trawling on our waters because it shows that trawling can be very destructive, and hooks and traps are much better if you believe in sustainable fishery.
He welcomed a proposal by The French Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Vietnam branch manager Clement Biasse that smaller scale hydroelectricity projects could be brought to Sarawak.
