Published on: Sunday, December 13, 2009 |
Kota Kinabalu: Over-fishing and excessive export of fish are to blame for depleting fish supplies in the State and not the weather.
Sabah Anglers Association (SAA) President, Datuk Wilfred Lingham, said the non-existence of a fish export quota also not only threatens to put seafood out of reach of ordinary consumers but also affect the State's tourism edge as the nation's top seafood destination.
He said the Association believes one of the reasons for the shortage is also due to ready-buyers waiting at sea for the fish that have been caught.
"We suspect there is a mothership somewhere, maybe waiting in international waters for this fish especially from countries like Vietnam," he said.
Lingham's fears lent weight to claims made by those in the industry that these ready-buyers were "waylaying" fish caught by fishermen in Sabah - buying the catch for higher prices even before they reach land.
The sales done at sea are said to fetch better returns for local fishermen than if sold to fishmongers here.
On Friday, Malaysian Fisheries Development Board (LKIM) Chairman, Datuk Rahim Ismail did not discount the possibility that this may be happening, saying the sea was vast and open.
Last year, in a controversial move, Vietnamese fishermen were also allowed to fish in Sabah waters using local vessels. Enforcement authorities have often seized turtles and sharks, besides finding them to be carrying out their fishing in protected areas.
The statistics on offences and penalties imposed have not been disclosed by the Fisheries Department despite calls by the public in Daily Express Forum.
Lingham said in view of this the time has come for the State Government to also impose a fish export quota in Sabah, on grounds that the food source is being shipped out of the State in massive volumes without proper controls.
"There appears to be no control and restriction over the export of fish particularly frozen or dead fish É even live fish. The licence is still being issued. Fish exporting permits are issued by LKIM at RM5 per export irrespective of the amount of fish exported.
"For instance, about 10,000 tonnes of fish were exported to the peninsula between January and June last year," he said, adding exotic fish like the coral trout was also much sought-after by people in Hong Kong and Singapore, among others.
"Sometimes, we anglers sell this fish to middlemen and they export them live. It could be sold at RM120 per kg but is now in short supply because the fish was caught extensively," he said, accentuating the high prices such catch could fetch.
Contending that the year-end bad weather played a minute part in the depletion of fish supply in Sabah, Lingham said the year-end monsoon period, which could stretch to March, instead encouraged the replenishment of fish stocks.
"The monsoon provides a window for fish population to spawn and breed É its nature's way to re-stock the fish population."
Attributing the shortage to over-fishing, he said the South China Sea was the most over-fished waters in the world because it is surrounded by nations with huge populations.
"Our waters are being targeted by people who are using and engaging destructive fishing methods such as fishbombing, which is the most destructive, cyanide, trawling, long-liners and bagang (fishing platform).
"The purpose of this bagang, which is found all over the State, is actually to catch anchovies but it subsequently disrupts the food chain of bigger fish. For instance, in Kimanis alone, there are about 100 bagang, of which only between 70 and 80 are legal," he said.
Lingham also said local operators of floating caging systems in Sabah, which normally breed groupers, snappers and ikan putih, have forged an agreement with people outside the State to supply them with the reared fish.
