By Nadiah Zamlus
SHAH ALAM, Dec 26 — The state government has allocated RM300,000 to the Selangor Fisheries Department for the construction of 14 artificial reefs.
State executive councillor for agricultural modernisation and agro-based industry Izham Hashim said the artificial reefs are part of the efforts to breed fishes in the Sabak Bernam waters.
"It will become a breeding ground for various types of fish such as golden snapper, grouper, red snapper and young fish as well as other marine life.
"At the same time, we expect the number of landings to increase because currently, Sabak Bernam fish production is around 64,000 metric tonnes per year, which is a reduction compared to the previous year at 76,000 metric tonnes per year," he told SelangorKini.
On Wednesday he officiated the lowering of the completed 14 Soft Bottom Anti-Trawling Artificial Reef at the Sabak Bernam coast.
According to him, the work of lifting the 16.7 metric tons of reefs took four to five hours.
"It is anchored at the bottom of the sandy and muddy waters at a depth of about 20 meters which is suitable for placing artificial reefs.
"This is the second time artificial reefs is anchored in these waters after it was (first) done in 2006," he said.
