UMS 'hybrid fish trap' innovation increases fishermen's yields
KOTA KINABALU (July 4): The use of a hybrid fish trap can provide additional income for traditional fishermen who rely on fishing rods, nets and trawls in nearshore waters.
The Vice Chancellor of Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS), Prof Datuk Dr Kasim Hj Mansor, said that pilot tests using the trap were conducted among artisanal fishermen in Semporna and along the university's coastal area.
'The trial results showed that fishermen were able to earn no less than RM400 per week in additional income, supplementing their usual earnings from fishing, netting and trawling,' he said.
Dr Kasim said this during the 'Knowledge Transfer Ceremony through the Distribution of Hybrid Fish Traps to Artisanal Fishermen' in Kg Rampayan Laut last Saturday.
The ceremony involved the handover of hybrid traps and life jackets to 28 fishermen in the village.
The 'hybrid trap' is an innovation derived from traditional traps made of bamboo and rattan, redesigned using an iron rod frame and rubber netting with a flexible trap mechanism that adapts to the size of the fish entering it.
Also present were Deputy Vice Chancellor of Research and Innovation, Prof Ir Dr Rosalam Hj Sarbatly; Director of the UMS Centre for Blue Economy and Maritime Security Research, Prof Datuk Dr Ismail Ali; Director of the Centre for Sustainability and Community Engagement, Ts. Dr Ag. Sufiyan bin Abd Hamid; CEO of Blue Dreams Sdn Bhd, Michael Hi Long; freshwater fish entrepreneur, Datuk Yap Yun Fook; village chief KK Amberen Aliamat, and local residents.
The program aligns with the Ministry of Higher Education's initiative to strengthen partnerships between higher learning institutions and communities and supports Sabah's blue economy development agenda through the Sabah Maju Jaya Secretariat.
The hybrid trap project is part of UMS's corporate social responsibility efforts, funded through research grants to increase the income of targeted groups. The high-quality life jackets were donated by Blue Dreams Sdn Bhd.
Dr Kasim also shared that under the same program, UMS released 1.5 million fish fries, including prawns, into the Darau River to help sustain the river's ecosystem as a food source for locals.
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