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The introduction of trawl nets into marine fishing caused disagreements and disputes between the traditional fishermen and the trawl operators, very often, the latter always benefited, thus in 1963, The Fisheries's Act was formulated to control tension. In 1964, the fisheries in Sabah and Sarawak took a positive footing with the setting up of Fisheries Departments there.
The 70's era.
The new economic policy, launched in 1970, also spilled its benefit to the Fisheries Department. The Department held lofty responsibilities to eradicate poverty and restructure livelihood of fishermen. In the second and third Malaysia Plans spanning almost a decade from 1971-1980, an amount of RM90 million was allocated to the department to assist fishermen to acquire vessels, engines and netting equipment through the Fishermen Subsidy Scheme. Additional RM45 million was put to good use to build fisheries infrastructures.
In 1981, the Malaysian Government declared the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), which encompassed additional water bodies for the nation to make full and economic use of in terms of fisheries. The area became 160,00 nautical square miles instead of 47,000.
In 1982, The Fisheries Department introduced comprehensive and uniformed licensing policy for effective resource development and management.
As fisheries progressed, a new act was introduced in 1985 and subsequently enforced first January of 1986.
Progress in Research.
In the field of fisheries research and studies, the department has established various research centres, with the Fisheries Research Institute in Penang, now in Batu Maung, as the main node for research activities. Formed in 1958, it spearheaded research in the fields of fishery resource, aquatic ecology, and aquaculture as its major disciplines with a pool of qualified researchers and scientists. Other centres followed suit , among them, the formation of Brackishwater Research Centre in Gelang Patah, Johor in 1978, The Centre for Production of Finfish and Marine Prawn of Tanjung Demong, Terengganu in 1983. The National Prawn Fry Research of Pulau Sayak (NAPFRE), formed in 1987 acted as the integral component of research and plays important role in production and research of marine prawns such as tiger prawn or Penaeus monodon, which is a popular food stuff for restaurants and homes
The department also put great emphasis to develop aquaculture and its industries. The farming and culture of fish, crustaceans, molluscs and seaweeds under control conditions began its early stage of development. In 1989, Malaysia's total aquaculture production amounted to only 53,118.92 tonnes, that is about 6.0% of overall fish production.(Ong Kah Sin). Freshwater and brackishwater fish such as Nile tilapia, Siakap and Kerapu, as a source of protein food was cultured in ponds in suitable sites. Marine Prawns, such as Penaeus monodon and Penaeus merguiensis are cultured in brackishwater ponds by Operatotrs or farmers.
These products and including cockle culture in coastal mudflats and a little bit from mussel and oyster culture in Johor contributed to foreign exchange through export. Culture of red seaweed (Eucheuma sp.) has been carried out on a small scale in Sabah, but farming on a large scale has yet to be developed in Malaysia. Development and introduction of new methods of farming and technologies is being developed and so is the introduction of new aquaculture products. By 1993, total production of aquaculture, excluding production of ornamental fish amounted to 105,237.31 metric tonnes, about double the amount in 1989. The performance will rise further with increase allocations, emphasis on R & D for aquaculture and various new areas sighted as potential aquaculral sites throughout Malaysia.
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