Latest news with #AdnanHussain
The Star
2 days ago
- General
- The Star
More relief for coral reefs
Protecting the ocean: Fisheries Department director-general Datuk Adnan Hussain (second from left) looking on as workers lower an artificial reef during a reef sinking programme in Kelantan. PETALING JAYA: With coral reef health on the decline, the Fisheries Department is stepping up efforts to preserve Malaysia's sanctuaries of aquatic life by deploying new artificial reefs in Kelantan waters. The department revealed that it had deployed 12 soft-bottom trawl-blocking artificial reefs in the waters off Pasir Puteh and Bachok yesterday to act as physical protective barriers for ocean life against trawling. Built from reinforced concrete, these artificial reefs prevent trawlers from dragging their nets across the seafloor, which would damage coral and other aquatic ecosystems while worsening water quality by disturbing seabed sediment. 'Each artificial reef structure weighs 15 tonnes and measures 2.6m in height and 2.5m in both width and length. 'They are built in full compliance with the United Nations Environment Programme's guidelines for the placement of artificial reefs,' said Fisheries Department deputy director-general (development) Datuk Azahari Othman in a statement. The new artificial reefs join the now over 300 artificial reefs that have been placed off various points of Kelantan waters since 2007, which hosts some of the biggest and most popular coral reefs in the country, such as those around Redang and Perhentian islands. Azahari said its artificial reef programme would remain a core marine conservation strategy going forward. 'This not only boosts local fishery yields but also safeguards habitats from illegal fishing and climate-change impacts. 'This is a long-term strategic investment to secure the nation's food security that in turn supports agro-tourism, enables scientific research and acts as a catalyst for coastal-community economic growth. 'The department remains committed to continuing this systematic conservation effort in phases to ensure the sustainability of the nation's essential marine resources,' he said. The department also said that RM1.68mil has been allocated for Kelantan's artificial reef programme so far this year, with other artificial reef deployments planned for Tok Bali and Sungai Gali. This comes after it was found that live coral cover (LCC) in Malaysia had continued to decline in a survey by non-governmental organisation Reef Check Malaysia in January this year. It found that LCC in Malaysia's coral reef sites had decreased from 50% in 2022 to 45.9% in 2023 and 44.7% last year following a survey of 315 coral sites nationwide.
The Guardian
7 days ago
- Politics
- The Guardian
Jeremy Corbyn hints at launch of new party as leftwing alternative to Labour
Jeremy Corbyn has hinted he could launch a political party alongside other leftwing independent MPs in an attempt to offer 'an alternative' to Labour, before the next general election. Speaking on ITV's Peston programme, the former Labour leader confirmed discussions were under way among the Independent Alliance group of MPs that he co-founded last year. Asked directly whether they were preparing to form a new party, Corbyn did not rule it out. 'That grouping [of independents] will come together, there will be an alternative,' he said. The Independent Alliance includes four other independent MPs who all beat Labour candidates and MPs over the party's position on Gaza. The group has the same amount of MPs as Reform UK and the Democratic Unionist party, which each have five MPs, and more than the Green party and Plaid Cymru on four. Corbyn, who sits as an independent after he was suspended by Keir Starmer in 2020, has long hinted at plans to create a vehicle for socialist policies and pro-Palestinian campaigning. But until now he has not openly suggested a party launch before polling day. The move could dismantle the left-of-centre vote and present a headache for Starmer, who has repositioned Labour in the political centre. Corbyn's group includes Shockat Adam, the MP for Leicester South; Ayoub Khan, the MP for Birmingham Perry Barr; Adnan Hussain the MP for Blackburn, and Iqbal Mohamed, the MP for Dewsbury and Batley. Corbyn said any new party would focus on poverty, inequality and a foreign policy 'that's based on peace rather than war'. Asked if he would lead the party, he added: 'I'm here to work – I'm here to serve the people in the way I've always tried to do.' 'The Alliance group of MPs has worked very hard and very well together over the past year in parliament, and we're coming up to our first anniversary,' Corbyn said.
New Straits Times
25-06-2025
- Business
- New Straits Times
Malaysia lost RM824 million worth of fish to foreign intruders between 2020 and 2024
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia has recorded losses amounting to RM823.88 million due to encroachments by foreign fishing vessels on the country's waters up to last year. Fisheries Department (DoF) director-general Datuk Adnan Hussain said a total of 515 intrusion cases involving foreign fishermen were recorded between 2020 and 2024. He said the figure was based on data from DoF, Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) and the marine police (PPM), adding that all three institutions would be working together to resolve the problem. "DoF will continue to strengthen its collaboration with MMEA and PPM by conducting maritime enforcement operations, including through inter-agency initiatives such as Ops Naga, Ops Gelora, Patkor Optima and Mardof," he said today. He added that the department was also committed to cooperate with international instruments in fighting illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing. "This includes actively enhancing regional cooperation through platforms such as the Asean Network for Combating IUU Fishing (AN-IUU) and the Regional Plan of Action to Prevent, Deter and Eliminate IUU Fishing (RPOA-IUU)," he added.
The Sun
31-05-2025
- General
- The Sun
Over 4.4 tonnes of invasive fish removed from local waters since 2022
PEKAN: The Fisheries Department has removed over 4.4 tonnes of non-native fish species from Malaysian waters since 2022 through 17 operations targeting invasive fish. Its director-general Datuk Adnan Hussain said the operations were aimed at eliminating aggressive, fast-breeding foreign species that threaten local biodiversity by competing for food and habitat. He said Malaysia is home to more than 449 native freshwater fish species, including the kelah, temoleh, sebarau and river catfish, which are ecologically and economically important. 'However, invasive species such as peacock bass, African catfish, redtail catfish and the Amazon sailfin catfish or bandaraya fish, are now threatening the sustainability of our aquatic biodiversity,' he told reporters after officiating the Invasive Fish Species Awareness programme and the 'Moh! Tangkap Baung Ekor Merah' (Catch the Redtail Catfish) competition here today. Based on recent reports, the redtail catfish population is notably high in Sungai Pahang and is also present in Sungai Perak and Sungai Selangor, indicating the species' ability to adapt easily to local aquatic environments. He did not rule out the possibility that these invasive fish were initially brought in by aquaculture operators from neighbouring countries and later escaped into natural waterways during floods. Despite the ecological threat, Adnan said that the redtail catfish has commercial value due to its market price, which has encouraged some communities to catch and sell the fish as a source of income. 'However, this should not lead to complacency. We need coordinated efforts to reduce the population of these invasive species, including raising public awareness about their threat to local ecosystems,' he said. Among the initiatives taken is the organisation of invasive fish-catching competitions aimed at removing these species from national waters to reduce their population and ecological impact. During the event, the department also presented RM331,400 in Matching Grant Assistance under the Aquaculture Integration Development Programme to three main participants of the Rizqi Cluster, as well as RM66,000 in living allowance aid to 22 fishermen in the district.
The Sun
31-05-2025
- General
- The Sun
Over 4.4 tonnes of invasive fish removed from local waters
PEKAN: The Fisheries Department has removed over 4.4 tonnes of non-native fish species from Malaysian waters since 2022 through 17 operations targeting invasive fish. Its director-general Datuk Adnan Hussain said the operations were aimed at eliminating aggressive, fast-breeding foreign species that threaten local biodiversity by competing for food and habitat. He said Malaysia is home to more than 449 native freshwater fish species, including the kelah, temoleh, sebarau and river catfish, which are ecologically and economically important. 'However, invasive species such as peacock bass, African catfish, redtail catfish and the Amazon sailfin catfish or bandaraya fish, are now threatening the sustainability of our aquatic biodiversity,' he told reporters after officiating the Invasive Fish Species Awareness programme and the 'Moh! Tangkap Baung Ekor Merah' (Catch the Redtail Catfish) competition here today. Based on recent reports, the redtail catfish population is notably high in Sungai Pahang and is also present in Sungai Perak and Sungai Selangor, indicating the species' ability to adapt easily to local aquatic environments. He did not rule out the possibility that these invasive fish were initially brought in by aquaculture operators from neighbouring countries and later escaped into natural waterways during floods. Despite the ecological threat, Adnan said that the redtail catfish has commercial value due to its market price, which has encouraged some communities to catch and sell the fish as a source of income. 'However, this should not lead to complacency. We need coordinated efforts to reduce the population of these invasive species, including raising public awareness about their threat to local ecosystems,' he said. Among the initiatives taken is the organisation of invasive fish-catching competitions aimed at removing these species from national waters to reduce their population and ecological impact. During the event, the department also presented RM331,400 in Matching Grant Assistance under the Aquaculture Integration Development Programme to three main participants of the Rizqi Cluster, as well as RM66,000 in living allowance aid to 22 fishermen in the district.
