PANTAI MERDEKA, January 8-The Malaysian Fisheries Development Board (LKIM) will help more fishermen in the country to venture into the field of aquaculture to increase the supply of local seafood and thus bring them out of the cocoon of poverty.

LKIM chairman Muhammad Faiz Fadzil said the initiative was in line with the government's target to ensure the local aquaculture industry contributed 40 percent of the national fish supply by 2030.

He said the effort will also help the government in stabilizing the price of seafood due to the increasing supply.

"Fishermen cannot depend on sea resources and need to engage in aquaculture. Because it is a field that promises good returns.

"We are trying to achieve the "Food Security" agenda or food skills.

"Aquaculture is a very important field in the government's efforts to produce a sufficient supply of seafood. The year 2030 is about 40 percent", he said after visiting the aquaculture breeding system project site, for Vannamei shrimp species, also known as Pacific White Shrimp or King Shrimp in Merdeka Beach here.

He explained that the project with the concept of a more sustainable smart system or known as Sustainable Smart Aqua Farming Systems (SAFS) was carried out by a private company on land owned by LKIM.

Such projects will be expanded throughout the country in areas of land owned by LKIM such as Bukit Malut Langkawi, Badong Pahang, Setiu, Terengganu and others.