July 04, 2006 17:23 PM
Malaysians Expected To Eat More Fish
TEMERLOH, July 4 (Bernama) -- Malaysians are expected to consume more fish by 2010 compared with six years ago, said Deputy Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shariff Omar.
He said in the year 2000, on average a Malaysian ate over 45kg of fish and this was expected to increase to 55kg by 2010.
To meet the rising demand, the ministry was focusing on development of the aquaculture sector, he told reporters after opening the Pahang Aquaculture Entrepreneur Development seminar here.
"We plan to have another 58,000 hectares for the production of freshwater fish nationwide from the 22,582 hectares presently to achieve the production target of 662,000 tonnes a year," he said.
He added that aquaculture production was targeted to contribute 21 per cent to the total fish output by 2010 from only six per cent presently.
Demand for fish in the country is 1.93 million tonnes per annum while production is only 1.3 million tonnes.
-- BERNAMA
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