KOTA KINABALU: The Sabah government plans to implement an amnesty programme next year to address the region’s decades-long problems with fishing vessel licences.

       Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Dr Jeffrey Kitingan said there are currently more than 11,000 fishing vessel licenses still active in Sabah, adding that many do not comply with the conditions of their fishing licences.

       “Many of these licensees do not adhere to the conditions of their licences. This has been an ongoing problem for more than three decades, and something needs to be done about it," he said after attending a briefing held by the Fisheries Department here on Monday (Dec 20).

       He said the programme will focus on nine different types of offences that many licensees have not complied with, among them, being a licence holder without owning a fishing vessel.

       "Many of these people only renew their licences solely for financial benefits or other undisclosed reasons," he said.

       Kitingan said that some owners have changed the size of the vessels, which goes against the original size specified in the licence issued.

       “The problem with this category is the non-standardisation of vessel sizes. Some licensees would upsize their vessels and then claimed they were still adhering to their licence terms and conditions.

       “We need to clearly specify the size of vessels under each licence category,” he added.

       Other issues included licences being issued while vessels were still being built; vessels being built in violation of the terms and conditions of the licences and vessels being utilised before licences were issued.

       “However, we will not punish licence holders by taking away their licences. We don't want to rob them of their source of income,” Kitingan added.

       Meanwhile, Kitingan also disclosed that the state Agriculture and Fisheries Ministry has worked with the Malaysian Nuclear Agency (MNA) to introduce the novel padi variety NMR152 in Sabah to increase rice production.

       "We need to make sure that our farming is moving more and more towards organic farming,” he added.