The pro tem president of the newly set-up association, Datuk Nik Sapeia Nik Yusof, said the chemical was widely used by fishermen in neighbouring countries.

"It is an open secret. That's why the imported fish remain fresh even after weeks while those kept in ice can only last for up to three weeks and even then, it doesn't look fresh any more.

"We are concerned over the health of consumers who eat these fish. We feel the authorities should conduct strict checks on imported fish, especially those brought in from Thailand," he said at a press conference here yesterday.

Formaldehyde can be toxic, allergenic and carcinogenic.
The United States Environmental Protection Agency has classified it as a probable human carcinogen.

The International Agency for Research on Cancer reported "sufficient evidence" that occupational exposure to formaldehyde causes nasopharyngeal cancer in humans.

Nik Sapeia, who announced the setting up of the association, said it was to provide a platform for the members to voice their problems and promote the deep-sea fishing industry in the state.

The association has 20 members who are deep-sea fishermen.

He said the members, who owned 200 large fishing vessels in Tok Bali, Pasir Putih, previously belonged to the local fishermen associations, but felt sidelined as these bodies mere mainly promoting the interests of the small operators.

"We have our own share of problems like the new rulings to fix the black box on large vessels, toilets onboard, diesel subsidy, foreign workers and the incentives for landed catch which are to be enforced this year."

He said the members were the ones who helped boost the state's marine catch, yet their plight was largely ignored.

"We are also worried about the future of our operational bases as the authorities are building a jetty for deep-sea fishing operators and want us to use it when it is completed.

"We started our operations in the 1960s from scratch.

"And some of us spent millions of ringgit building our own jetties and cold room facilities.

"We hope the Fisheries Department and the Fisheries Development Board will accept our representatives and call us for discussions on these rulings before implementing them," he added.

New Straits Times/Asia News Network