Strategic Planning of the Fisheries Department 2016 – 2020.

This Strategic Planning of the Fisheries Department is a 5-year nationwide sectoral document representing a guide and reference in implementing the Department's role to increase specific production from the fisheries industry which will contribute to the growth of GDP. In fact, through the Strategic Plan, the output of the fishing industry is expected to be able to increase exponentially where the main contributor is produced by the aquaculture sector. The output of the processing sector will itself continue to increase through the contribution of the aquaculture industry. The production from these industries is not only for the domestic market but is more focused on the export market. The target will be achieved by encouraging the participation of foreign direct investment (FDI). The Vision at the basis of the Plan is to achieve sustainable growth of the fishery industry output through the use of high technology towards increased productivity and export orientation. The Strategic Goals set out by te document are (i) to increase the output growth of the fishing industry so that it can contribute significantly to GDP growth, export growth, and subsequently to economic diversification; (ii) to increase the productivity of the fishery industry through the use of technology, the widespread use of modern techniques as well as encouraging the active involvement of local investment and foreign direct investment (FDI); (iii) to reduce dependence on the import of fishery-based food items, being open to increasing the import of fishery-based raw materials for generating growth in the seafood processing industry; (iv) to reduce dependence on Government spending in implementing strategies and programs to increase the output growth of the fishing industry through methods such as Public Private Partnership (PPP); (v) to create local investment and business opportunities that will contribute to job creation for local people; (vi) to implement preventive and control measures to protect the fishing industry from any disease infection; (vii) to ensure that the products of the fishing industry are of high quality and guaranteed to be safe.
Since fisheries resources have been significantly reduced due to overfishing and IUU fishing, to develop the aquaculture industry the Plan suggest (i) increasing the productivity of existing farms; (ii) maximize the use of the site offered; (iii) new site opening; (iv) use of the latest technology and innovation; (v) foreign direct investment; (vi) Foreign export market; (vi) Public Private Partnership (PPP). The focus aquaculture indutries shall be shrimp farming, fish farming in cages, offshore caged fish farming, fish/shrimp seed hatchery, deep sea fishing (Zone 4), and seafood processing.
The Plan indicates, year by year, depending on the industries, what interventions need to be implemented, in particular, it concerns (i) creating or improving infrastructure, including roads, clean water, electricity supply, and water supply; (ii) site preparation; (iii) waste management; (iv) landing area preparation for deep sea fishing; (v) processing, packaging, hygiene, and food safety technology skills courses for the seafood industry, including training and skills courses on factory HACCP elements.