STEPS TO DEVELOP PRAWN FISHING

Mr John Ede asked the Minister for Commerce and Industry whether he will make a statement on the steps being taken to develop the prawn-fishing industry.

Mr J. M. Jumabhoy: Mr Speaker, Sir, the first phase of the experiments conducted at the Fisheries Division experimental prawn ponds to determine how to obtain the maximum yield from existing prawn ponds with the lowest expenditure and labour was completed in 1956. The second phase of the experiments began this year. This introduces pig rearing into routine prawn pond operation with the view to increasing the income of the prawn pond operators. The waste products of pig rearing will be used to fertilize the ponds with the object of increasing the yield from the present estimated figure of one-third of a ton per acre per annum. My Ministry has been hoping to utilise a further 1,373 acres of swamp land at Ulu Pandan for prawn ponds but since the area is in the Ulu Pandan Forest Reserve, there is a conflict of interest which will need to be sorted out.

Mr John Ede: Mr Speaker, Sir, is the Minister aware that it has now been discovered that prawns breed in the mangrove areas and will he give due consideration to this important point?

Mr J. M. Jumabhoy: I certainly will, Sir