El Niño could hit fishermen, fish farms as temperatures soar to 40°C, says Mat Sabu

KOTA BHARU, Oct 16 — Agriculture and Food Security Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu has warned that El Niño could significantly impact coastal fishermen and aquaculture operators in Malaysia, due to soaring temperatures reaching up to 40 degrees Celsius. The phenomenon could force fish to migrate farther out to sea, posing a challenge for fishermen who are limited to fishing within a five-nautical-mile radius and are not equipped to fish in deeper waters.

In response, the government has discussed preparations for El Niño with Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, including an increase in allocations for coastal fishermen. Mohamad noted that fish tend to move further offshore during El Niño events, but coastal fishermen lack the capacity to follow them. He also highlighted the additional financial burden on the aquaculture sector, which may have to invest in protective measures such as canvas covers for fish-rearing ponds if temperatures rise significantly.

Mohamad emphasized the importance of early preparations to help farmers and other agrifood operators mitigate the effects of hot weather on their activities. He stressed the need for timely dissemination of information to these groups to help them take appropriate measures. The minister also pointed out that the possibility of haze further complicates preparations for the potential impacts of El Niño.