KUALA LUMPUR: Major development projects affecting coastal communities must undergo social and environmental impact assessments to ensure fishermen’s livelihoods are taken into account.
Deputy Agriculture and Food Security Minister Datuk Chan Foong Hin said large-scale projects often created competing demands between economic development and the livelihoods of coastal fishermen.
He said such projects involved multiple ministries and required Social Impact Assessments (SIA) and Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA), with the Fisheries Development Authority (LKIM) participating in consultations with affected fishermen.
“There is often a conflict between the demand for high-impact development projects and the livelihoods and incomes of coastal fishermen.
“These projects involve agencies across several ministries and require social and environmental impact assessments, with LKIM participating as a stakeholder in engagement sessions with fishermen,” he told the Dewan Rakyat today.
Chan was responding to a supplementary question from Hassan Abdul Karim (PH-Pasir Gudang), who raised concerns about the plight of small-scale fishermen affected by major coastal reclamation and development projects.
Hassan cited projects in Penang, Melaka and Johor, including areas near Forest City, the Port of Tanjung Pelepas, Tanjung Bin Power Station and the Pengerang development, which includes the deepwater terminal and Petronas’ Refinery and Petrochemical Integrated Development.
He said fishermen in these areas had suffered adverse effects on their livelihoods and asked whether the ministry could provide assistance.
Chan also said the 2027 Budget would increase the number of special fishing boat licence holders from 17,000 to 20,000.
He said RM30 million had been allocated for the expansion, which would benefit an additional 3,000 eligible coastal fishermen.
“The government has agreed to increase the number of special fishing boat licence holders from 17,000 to 20,000, with an allocation of RM30 million.
“This means another 3,000 eligible coastal fishermen will be able to benefit from the assistance,” he said.
He said the government had no intention of undermining the incomes of coastal fishing communities and would continue providing assistance.
Earlier, Chan said the government was continuing efforts to improve productivity and incomes among small-scale fishermen.
He said the Fisheries Department had distributed RM214,108 in equipment assistance to 187 coastal fishermen nationwide in 2026 through its Fisheries Extension Delivery and Support Services System.
For 2027, an estimated RM200,000 would be allocated to benefit 170 fishermen, subject to funding approval and implementation arrangements.
LKIM had also allocated RM3 million for its fishing equipment assistance programme in 2026 and 2027, targeting 200 recipients nationwide.
The programme, introduced in 2023, provides assistance worth up to RM15,000 per recipient, including outboard engines, fibreglass boats, fishing nets and fish storage containers.