KUCHING, April 14 - The Sarawak Fisheries Department is expected to be established by the end of this year, to strengthen the development of the state's fisheries sector in a more holistic and structured manner.

According to the Minister of Food Industry, Commodities and Regional Development, Datuk Seri Stephen Rundi Utom, the ministry is currently in the final process of completing the working papers for the establishment of the department before it is tabled in the State Legislative Assembly (DUN).

"We will implement it through an appropriate ordinance. Sabah already has examples of their implementation and we are studying how they are implementing it. If it goes according to plan, we may present it either in the May or November session this year," he said.

He added that the establishment of the department would later support the role of the Fisheries Development Authority of Malaysia (LKIM) in developing the fisheries sector in Sarawak, including in terms of developing the fishing community, research and sustainable management of marine resources.

Stephen also informed that the idea of establishing a Sarawak Fisheries Department had been outlined for the past three years, but it took time in terms of preparing policies and implementing an administrative structure that was suitable for the state's needs.

He said this to the media after officiating the New Office and Launching of the Sarawak Land Development Board (LKTS) Logo at the DCCI Building, Jalan Ong Tiang Swee, Kuching this morning.

At the same event, LKTS also announced the official relocation of their operations from Wisma SEDC to a new location in the DCCI Building as part of an effort to strengthen the agency's delivery and administration system.