SEPTEMBER 10 — Every morning, long before the sun rises, thousands of fishermen across Malaysia head out to sea to secure the nation’s seafood supply. They work in challenging conditions, facing unpredictable weather and rising costs. Yet when they return to shore with their catch, the income they receive does not always reflect the value of their hard work.

A significant share of the value generated along the fisheries supply chain remains with intermediaries. For many small-scale fishermen, the challenge today is no longer simply catching fish. It is getting their catch to the right market, at the right price, while ensuring a fairer share returns to them.

Malaysia has more than 8,840 kilometres of coastline and abundant marine resources. Yet many traditional fishermen continue to experience unstable incomes because of their dependence on middlemen, limited access to capital, inadequate storage facilities and difficulties reaching markets directly.

This is where digitalisation can make a difference.

In today’s digital economy, the success of fishermen should not be measured solely by how much fish they bring home, but also by how effectively they can connect their catch to the market. Digitalisation offers an opportunity to transform fishermen from traditional producers into empowered market participants and digital entrepreneurs.

A study involving fishing communities in Penang found that weaknesses in the marketing system were among the key factors limiting fishermen’s income. Many continued to rely on intermediaries because they lacked sufficient capital, adequate storage and direct access to buyers. At the same time, the study found that the majority of fishermen already owned smartphones and were willing to adopt digital technology in their economic activities.

This is an important finding. The willingness to embrace change exists. What is needed is an ecosystem that enables fishermen to use technology effectively.

Digital platforms should therefore go beyond simply providing an online marketplace for selling fish. They should function as business management tools that allow fishermen to record sales, monitor prices, receive digital payments, manage deliveries, access microfinancing and communicate directly with buyers.

Imagine a fisherman being able to check current market prices before selling his catch, receive payment digitally and arrange delivery directly to a restaurant or supermarket. Such a system could shorten the supply chain, improve price transparency and reduce dependence on intermediaries.

Consumers could gain access to fresher seafood at more competitive prices, while restaurants and retailers could build more reliable relationships with local suppliers. In the longer term, a more transparent supply chain could strengthen Malaysia’s fisheries sector.

Fishermen’s cooperatives and associations should anchor this transformation.

Rather than functioning solely as collection centres, cooperatives can evolve into digital hubs for their members. They can coordinate digital marketing, provide microfinancing, manage logistics, facilitate technology access and conduct digital entrepreneurship training. Digital systems can improve financial and profit-distribution transparency, strengthening members’ confidence.

Digital transformation will not succeed without the right supporting infrastructure. Reliable internet connectivity in coastal areas, practical digital literacy programmes, user-friendly applications and financing schemes to help fishermen acquire digital devices must be addressed. Otherwise, the digital divide could further disadvantage vulnerable coastal communities.

The digitalisation of the fisheries sector should also be aligned with Malaysia’s broader economic aspirations, including the MADANI Economy, the national digital economy agenda and the Blue Economy. It can contribute to national food security, strengthen coastal economies and enhance Malaysia’s maritime competitiveness.

It is time to look at fishermen differently. They should not be seen merely as primary producers selling through traditional channels. With the right support, they can become digital entrepreneurs with greater control of the value chain.

When technology connects the sea directly to the open market, more of the value created by Malaysia’s fisheries can return to the people who work tirelessly at sea.

This shift would give fishermen greater bargaining power, create clearer links between producers and buyers, and help ensure that digital growth reaches coastal communities across Malaysia today.

Digitalisation is no longer an optional upgrade. It is a strategic necessity. With coordinated efforts involving government agencies, fishermen’s cooperatives and associations, higher education institutions and industry players, Malaysia can build a more inclusive digital fisheries ecosystem—one that empowers fishermen, benefits consumers and strengthens the nation’s maritime economy.

*Dr Muhammad Fadzly Zakaria is a senior lecturer at Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM). He can be contacted at fadzly@uum.edu.my

** This is the personal opinion of the writers or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of Malay Mail.