MIRI: lt was a wonderful surprise for Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas when he was invited to visit a tilapia fish farm in the suburb of the city here yesterday.
The farm belonging to Totara Aquaculture Sdn Bhd is located in Luak.
Set up about two years ago, it has 111 concrete tanks on a two-hectare site.
“I have visited a number of fruit and vegetable farms here,” Uggah said.
“This is the first time I encounter a fish farm in the city area and I am gobsmacked to say the least,” he added.
According to the farm managing director Ling Chiong Sieng, besides tilapia, he also rears local species like “Patin”, “Sultan”, “Keli” and Jade Perch which is native to Australia.
“Our monthly production is about six tons of mainly tilapia.
“The harvest is sold in the city and Bintulu town,” he revealed, adding that his future plan was to go into fillet production.
Uggah, who tried the tilapia over lunch later. said the fish was comparable to those from the Batang Ai hydro dam lake.
“There is no muddy after taste associated with tilapia farmed in ponds.
“I am sure the farm has a lot of potentials,” he said.
Uggah added that Ling’s effort was exemplary and his farm was an ideal place for study visits by those interested in aquaculture.
Meanwhile, the same company is also planning to venture into deep sea fishing.
It is planning to build five vessels for the purpose, according to Ling.
“Our hope is for the government to assist us in the marketing.
“We also plan to go into downstream processing,” he said.
Totara Aquaculture Sdn Bhd now has a big coastal fishing vessel with a monthly catch of 40 tons.
