Terengganu: The Terengganu government plans to introduce a new enactment requiring livestock owners to tag their animals with quick response (QR) codes. State Agriculture, Agro-Based Industry, Food Security and Commodities Committee chairman Datuk Dr Azman Ibrahim said the move was aimed at addressing the issue of roaming livestock, which posed safety risks to road users and caused damage to public infrastructure.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the QR codes would enable the authorities to quickly identify the owners and take legal action as a deterrent. Datuk Dr Azman emphasized the need for a Ruminant Livestock Control Enactment to regulate livestock activities in Terengganu. Currently, local authority by-laws only allow for the capture and auction of livestock, which he stated is insufficient for tackling a problem persisting for decades.

Meanwhile, Dr Azman announced that approximately 346,000 fish and shrimp fry, including freshwater species such as baung, lampam, and kelah, would be released into Terengganu waters this year. This initiative is supported by allocations from the state government. Additionally, a total of 596,000 fish fry had already been released into Sungai Kemaman, Sungai Ibai, and Tasik Kenyir from January to June 15, using federal government funds.

To further boost fishery resources, the state government will begin placing 94 artificial reefs in Terengganu waters starting tomorrow in Pulau Redang. Dr Azman noted that the programme, introduced several years ago, is beginning to yield positive outcomes, as evidenced by the increase in fish landings each year.