Aquaculture project threatens mangroves and fishermen livelihood

The Consumers’ Association of Penang (CAP) is urging the Perak state government to investigate and take immediate action in resolving the problem faced by about 500 small fishermen in Kampung Sungai Tuntung, Panchor and Pengkalan Bharu near Pantai Remis.

Their livelihood have been threatened by the aquaculture projects in these areas.

Its president S.M. Mohamed Idris in a statement said that the association is urging the Perak Forestry Department and Manjung District Land Office (Pejabat Tanah dan Galian Daerah Manjung) to investigate the complaint and make public their findings, especially to the local fishermen community regarding the status of the mangroves which are affected by the aquaculture projects.

"Besides threatening fishery resource and income of fishermen, the shrimp and crab culture projects have also destroyed hundreds of hectares of mangroves in this area and have polluted the river and sea by discharging effluents from the ponds.

"We understand from the fishermen that part of the mangroves that were destroyed to make way for aquaculture projects were originally permanent reserved forest i.e. Tanjung Burung Forest Reserve that should be protected and conserved. However what is happening now is that our natural heritage is being destroyed for aquaculture projects," he said.

Local fisherman Nordin Mohd Hasim, 42, said that their catch have dwindled, with a daily income decreasing from RM200 per day to RM30 per day. At times, they return home empty-handed.

Another fisherman Alias Said, 61, said that previously he could get a catch of about 20kg of ikan sembilang (eel-tailed catfish) per day but now if fortunate he gets only 5kg per day.

CAP is also urging the Fisheries Department, Department of Environment (DOE) and Department of Irrigation and Drainage (DID) to investigate this issue and take stern and appropriate action to resolve the problems faced by fishermen here.