Penang: Discussions with relevant parties will be held next week to seek the best solution for enforcing the fishing ban under the Penang Bridge and the Sultan Abdul Halim Mu'adzam Shah Bridge (JSAHMS).

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Penang Rural Development, Agro-technology and Food Security and Entrepreneurship Committee chairman Datuk Rashidi Zinol mentioned that the issue would be examined, considering safety, regulations, and the livelihoods of the affected community. The concerns were raised by tourist boat and fishing boat operators during a recent meeting. They expressed several issues following the enforcement of the fishing ban.

The operators have claimed that the ban under both bridges has directly impacted fishing activities, resulting in reduced demand for fishing and tourist boat services. The areas under the Penang Bridge and JSAHMS, also known as the Second Penang Bridge, have been designated as restricted areas and prohibited places under the Protected Areas and Protected Places Act 1959 (Act 298) and classified as National Key Points.

Zinol emphasized that the impact extends beyond boat operators to businesses in the wider supply chain, including those dealing with fishing equipment and supplies, ice, food, and other small enterprises. He plans to engage with the relevant parties next week to seek a balanced approach that ensures safety and regulatory compliance while taking into account the livelihoods of boat operators and related businesses.