Illegal methods blamed for depleting fish stocks

Sabah fishermen warn the government to stabilise fish stock in Sabah waters immediately to prevent prices of seafood increasing.

KOTA KINABALU: Illegal fishing methods are being used in Sabah waters and the authorities either turn a blind eye or lack enforcement powers to halt the practice.

Local fishermen here are angry over their declining business which they blame on the entry of sophisticated foreign fishing boats and crews.

They want stricter monitoring and enforcement of fishing laws and regulations to prevent unfair practices and to help replenish fast-depleting fish stocks.

They point to the indiscriminate use of high voltage fishing lights by some fishermen operating offshore to attract fish when there is clearly a ban in place on this practice.

Cheong Eng Tiang, a founder member of the Kota Kinabalu Fishing Boats Owner Association, said the state authorities had to act fast to stabilise fish stocks in waters around Sabah and prevent prices from rising.

Speaking on behalf of his fellow fishermen, he said that this was crucial so as to better protect the local fishing industry.

He said that the indiscriminate use of illegal fishing practices, such as high-voltage fishing lights, tend to blind the fish and would eventually kill them if they were not hauled in.

He claimed that such a practice was especially rampant among trawlers using the “purse seines” or commonly known as “pukat jerut” method of fishing.

Outlawed methods

The Fisheries Department limits trawlers operating within 12 nautical miles to 30,000 watts of fishing lights but allows higher voltage for those beyond 30 nautical miles.

“Some pukat jerut trawlers are fitted with more than 30,000 watts… some (have) up to 100,000 watts and operate within the 12 nautical miles, instead of the 30 nautical miles.

“This is bad for the entire fishing industry,” he said, adding that some trawlers are even equipped with undersea fishing lights which have been outlawed.

Cheong said the uncontrolled trend was mainly responsible for the the fast declining fishing industry in the east coast of Sabah, including Semporna, Kudat and Sandakan and as a result, fishmongers there are now importing fish from the west coast.

“But, the same problem (indiscriminate use of high-voltage fishing lights) is now happening in the west coast.

“We have been observing this for the past two years and it is increasing. We are concerned that if such a trend is left unchecked, it could have a far-reaching implication on the entire fishing industry of Sabah.

“Very soon, we might have to start importing seafood from other sources.

“If this happens, it could have an adverse impact on our economy and tourism industry, too,” he said.

Cheong wants the State Fisheries Department to start stricter monitoring and enforcement to help raise fish stocks.

Declining shark population

A local aquarium has also sounded a warning on the alarming depletion of certain species in Sabah waters.

The Green Connection, which markets itself as an “aquarium and science discovery centre”, said reef shark populations had almost been wiped out in the state.

Prof Steve Oakley, the technical adviser to the aquarium, attributed this to the government allowing shark fishing for so many years that the species has declined by 98%.

He also said that the harvesting of juvenile Hammerheads that are caught when they move away from Sipadan Island when they feed at night, has drastically affected the eco-system of the jewel in Sabah’s tourism industry.

Revealing that there are no sharks in most of Sabah’s national parks, Ockley said six of Malaysia’s tourism competitors – Palau, Guam, Seychelles, Maldives, Honduras and Hawaii – have banned shark fishing.

He added that many places around the world had started to take care of their shark population and had banned longline fishing that still takes place in Sabah waters.

He was also speaking in support of the “Say No To Shark Fin Soup” campaign organised by a local group.

He said that consumers unknowingly eat shark meat, ignorant of the fact that it contains toxic amounts of mercury which can cause brain damage.

“Please don’t feed them to pregnant ladies or children.

“For infants, it disturbes their mental development and for adults, (the result is) damage to the central nervous system,” he said.