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Haze Affects Source of Income for Selangor's Traditional Fishermen

Sustainability Economics People +5 more

MALAYSIA - The heavy haze that hit several states in the country has not only affected the people's health, but also the source of income of certain groups, particularly traditional fishermen in Selangor.

Omar Abdul Rahman, Kuala Selangor Fishermen's Association chairman, told Bernama.com that the income of 1,000 of the association's members were badly affected by the hazy condition.

As such, he said the association had made an application for aid and assistance from the state government, but had yet to receive any feedback.

The association also called on the Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Ministry to consider the proposal to increase the cost of living allowance for fishermen to RM400 from the current RM200 to ease their burden, he said.

Meanwhile, Selangor Fisheries Department officer Saufi Affandi Talib said the limited visibility caused by the haze had made it difficult for the traditional fishermen using small boats to operate as usual.

"Right now, some of the fishermen can go no further than about one or two nautical miles from the beach," he told Bernama.com.

Sauffi Affandi the limited visibility could also caused the fishermen to get caught in drift nets as they could not see the buoys.

He also advised the fishermen who still keen on going fishing during the hazy condition to bring safety jackets, flash lights and other safety tools.

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