Notwithstanding the severity of the increasing impact on Malaysian fishery resources, the progress made in fishing productivity and efficiency during the last decade has been creditable. The adverse effect on the standard of living of the lower income groups in fishing communities has, however, become more noticeable. Reducing disparities in income and the quality of life among poor and non-poor fishermen (including fish merchants) remain an important issue in national fisheries development. One of the pragmatic approaches to combat this problem is the design and implementation of the Fishermen Relocation Programme (FRP).
Development efforts of the FRP cannot be efficiently implemented without obtaining collaboration from other departments and agencies concerned since developing alternatives to fishing will largely depend on development outside the fishery sector and the capacity of other economics to absorb surplus labour. It is therefore imperative that development policies and programmes of other sectors of industry contain within them a comprehensive set of measures, with a strong commitment, directed to the issue of surplus fishermen (e.g. FELDA's commitment to allocate 600 vacancies to eligible fishermen per annum).
The Government has adopted privatization as a strategy over the last several years principally because the size and extent of its Government activities in the economy has increased its financial burden. The role of the private sector will grow in importance in the future in the light of rising public resource constraints. In line with the policy and concept of privatization, any effort to develop sectoral fishermen's relocation projects (e.g. off-shore fishing, aquaculture) should be considered by the management for private entrepreneurship and LKIM's direct involvement in economic business be avoided. Resettlement projects which are presently undertaken by LKIM's should therefore eventually be sold or transferred to individual entrepreneurs or institutions who are bound to be capable of managing the business. This appears to be necessary in view of the fact that LKIM is lacking staff with adequate business expertise, experience in financial control and management in economic business.
The FRP should draw its adequate attention not only to fishermen who are willing to change their occupation, but also those who remain behind, to enable the latter to enjoy a higher level of catches and income. In this context, limiting or reducing the new entry to fishing, improving fishing technology and controlling the encroachment of commercial vessels into traditional fishing grounds could be effective in achieving an improvement in individual catches. Efforts to draw up a programme for limiting the entry into fishing labour force (Fishermen's Registration System) is under way. Enforcement of fishery regulatory methods and a management system would complimentarily contribute to the augmentation of the effects and impacts of the FRP. DOF's active involvement in the FRP is essential in this context.
There are regional imbalances in the absorptive capacity of industries with respect to surplus labour. For example, Johore, Pahang, Kelantan and Sabah will continue to be the focus for land development. FELDA, in Pahang provides quotas to non-state residents. Similar policy arrangements should be established in other states, where applicable, to expedite inter-state rural-rural migration to the area where greater potentials are found.
The planning process of relocation projects cannot be done without identifying labour requirements in other sectors of the economy. The lack of an adequate structure to monitor labour market information would limit the development potential of the FRP.
The pace of growth in LKIM's relocation programmes in the near future seems to be very high in pitch. This will invariably impose a burden on the existing limited manpower, expertise and management resources. Overall efficiency and performance could be affected. It is therefore imperative to strengthen the organizational set-up of LKIM both quantitywise and quality-wise to intensify its efforts toward achieving greater competitiveness in the planning and implementation of the FRP.
The slow down in economic growth and the need to reduce public sector expenditures in recent years has brought forth a lower rate of new job generation. However, given the Malaysian resources and technology, there could be a continuing trend of increase in labour absorptive capacity on a long-term basis. In this context, training programmes should be strengthened to equip fishermen and their families with the necessary skills in line with the structure and growth of labour demand.
The lack of coordination among the institution concerned, particularly LKIM and DOF, could lead to the overlapping of functions and result in a lack of uniformity in regard to standards, procedures, and technical practices in the design and implementation of the FRP. This will lead to confusion on the part of fishermen and implant disillusion among them toward the government's policy and action on the FRP. A clear understanding of the role to be played by LKIM and DOF is essential.
The field survey showed that fishermen's willingness to change occupations is very high even if it entails a move out of their home communities. The ownership of fishing assets, land and a house, do not seem a strong factor which ties fishermen to their communities. Conscious efforts need to be made to achieve goals. It should be noted that the target population to be siphoned off residing in the FDAs represents only 46% of the total surplus fishermen to be siphoned off.
Off-season commercial and agricultural activities need to be further encouraged to supplement incomes. Steps have to be taken to teach fishermen and their families in developing practical techniques in agriculture, animal husbandry and cottage industries in order to generate additional income. Due to their inexperience in these ventures, training programmes would be needed and arrangements should be made through the concerted efforts among the departments concerned in this respect.
