A DEARTH of foreign labourers to work on fishing boats has led to a dwindling supply of locally caught seafood, which has subsequently pushed prices up, said the Kuala Lumpur Hoi Seong Fish Wholesaler Association.

Association chairman Sing Kian Hock urged Putrajaya to allow foreign workers back into the country so that fishermen can go out to sea.

“We will follow government guidelines and quarantine the workers. But we need the government to allow them back so that the fishing boats can go back to work,” he told The Malaysian Insight, adding that each fishing vessel needs at least 10 people per trip out at sea.

The Covid-19 lockdown in March last year, followed by an immigration sweep to deport a large number of foreign workers, has caused a manpower shortage for many fishing boat operators.

“These boats typically employ workers from Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam. Without workers, these fishing boats are unable to go out to sea.

“Some 50-90% of the deepsea fishing boats are not able to go out,” he said, adding that locals don’t want to do the job.

Penang fishermen are the hardest hit, he said.

“The boats are sitting idle while fisherman bleed money from boat payments because they are not able to go out to fish.”

After a year of this, Sing said the fishing community feels neglected by the government as no action has been taken to address their problems.

“We used to be seafood exporters but now we have resorted to importing because there is not enough local supply,” he said, adding that the Malaysian fishing industry was once regarded as one of the best in the Asean region.

“I hope the relevant authorities will come together and find a solution to our problem. Otherwise the situation with our local fish supply will become dire.”

‘Domino effect’

Immigration records showed 40,394 checkout memos were issued between March and July 2020 to send foreign workers back to their countries of origin, said Home Affairs Minister Hamzah Zainudin  in a parliamentary written reply in September last year.

By sector, the repatriation involved 18,168 workers in manufacturing, followed by services (7,033), domestic helpers (5,113), construction (4,956), plantation (3,735), agriculture (1,928) and mining (1).

With locally caught seafood in short supply, Sing said prices have inevitably gone up.

“The cost of locally caught seafood is so expensive now it has broken the ceiling price. It has become a luxury that only the rich can afford,” Sing said.

He said locally caught kembung (Indian mackerel) grade A is priced between RM20-RM21 per kg. Selar (yellowtail scad) now costs RM18-19 and selayang (sardine), RM39. Depending on the grade, squid is priced RM33-44.

Fish such as kerapu (grouper), tenggiri (mackerel), jenahak (snapper), senangin (threadfin), and ikan merah (red snapper) are imported from Indonesia and Thailand. They are cheaper but not as fresh.

High prices are not the only effect of the worker shortage. Sing said if the situation persists, it will affect the production of processed seafood, canned seafood and even fertiliser.

“If there is no more fish, how are we going to manufacture products like fish balls and fishcakes?

“Eventually the supply chain problem will affect the canned food industry and the production of fish-based fertilisers as well.”

Sing said if the government continues to do nothing, the association may have to send a memorandum to the prime minister to highlight their problems. – April 17, 2021.