Fishermen expect to move to other industries

The annual South China Sea fishing ban started on Monday and will be in place until August 1.
Local fishermen have reported a 20 percent decline in business revenues since last year. This time around, few, if any, expect much change following the ban, according to reports by local media.
The Macau Fishermen’s Mutual Help Association (MFMA) have stated that the decreased revenue came as a consequence of the diminished fishing hauls that took place after the

Fishing boats sit in the Inner Harbor

Chinese New Year. According to Chan Meng Kam, vice president of MFMA, the reduced amount of fish has been due to several factors, including  weather and the reclamation of territories around the Pearl River estuary, as well as being linked to other seasonal reasons.
Chan also noted that a significant number of fishermen have already left the fishing industry, even before their retirement age, due to a lack of confidence in the future.
One fisherman interviewed by the Macao Daily News stated that he has already sought to find employment in an alternative industry but has been constantly turned down due to his lack of higher education. He hopes that the government will organize more training programs for fishermen in order to assist them to transition into other industries.
The fishing ban period affects not only the fishermen, but also the buyers. Some of the customers interviewed by TDM have expressed concerns about the potential for rising fish prices, while a number of other customers remained unaffected by potential price increases.