PSR could spell the end for Penang’s delicious large prawns

 

Over 20% of Penang’s 3,200 tonnes of fish come from the south, says Sungai Batu fishermen’s unit chief Zakaria Ismail. (Bernama pic)

GEORGE TOWN: Among the many delicacies that food haven Penang is famous for are the mouth-watering fresh, large prawns that go with many of the island’s iconic dishes.

The prawns, almost all of them caught by fishermen in the south of the island, are the prized catch of the fisherfolk as they fetch high prices – going for RM50 to RM60 a kilo. On a good day, a fisherman can catch RM700 worth of large prawns.

But that could all disappear if the large-scale reclamation project were to take place in Penang’s southern waters, a fisherman said today.

Sungai Batu fishermen’s unit chief Zakaria Ismail said this was because, for long, the southern water was famous for its large prawns and a goldmine for some 1,000 traditional fishermen there.

Zakaria Ismail.

“Where else can you get fresh, quality big prawns. It is only in the south of Penang and nowhere else,” he said in a talk hosted by ABIM today over the Penang South Reclamation (PSR) project.

Zakaria, 63, is leading 185 fishermen from the south in their appeal against the Department of Environment’s (DoE) approval of the PSR project, which is slated to be heard from July 12 to 14.

Meanwhile, he said historically, the southern waters have been the key source of protein in Penang from since before Francis Light landed on the island.

He said that with over 20% of Penang’s 3,200 tonnes of fish coming from the south, it would not only affect the rice bowl of fishermen but the state’s population that relied on the rich marine life there as a source of food.

Zakaria also dismissed claims by parties claiming there were no fishermen in the south and that half were not out to do their work. He said most fishermen go out depending on the tide conditions and use drift nets to fish in the coastal area.

The months of September to November are also “no-go” times for fishermen as strong winds from the west cause unacceptable weather at sea with choppy waters.

“Are you expecting us to be out 24 hours a day? Please don’t sit in your air-conditioned offices and make judgements. We don’t want irresponsible cyber troopers calling us lazy.

“There are so many factors to look at before we head out – wind speed, tides, weather. In a day, there are four phases of tides to take into consideration. You don’t think we want to earn a living?” he said.

Zakaria said detractors need to look at the present realities. He said with the current MCO, going out to fish was absolutely necessary, as they had to make at least RM200 a day.

He said while the money seems to be a lot, there were other considerations, such as diesel cost, buying new nets and other incidentals.

“We go to the sea with love. It is what we have been doing for generations. Please don’t ruin it for us and threaten our food security,” he said.

Zakaria said that recently, a floating test rig carrying out studies for the PSR project crashed into the sea and destroyed RM3,000 worth of fishing drift nets. A police report was lodged.

“If these kinds of things can come crashing before the reclamation can ever begin, what confidence can we have?”

Zakaria said the PSR project ought to be cancelled, adding that they had already suffered for five years after the second Penang bridge was built.

He said there had been a drastic drop in fish in the south for five years after the bridge was completed in 2014.

“The entire south was filled with selut (sludge) and it took many years before the sludge subsided. Today, thankfully, the mudflats are thriving with planktons,” he said.

There has been a torrent of voices against the PSR project, which will see three islands measuring 4,500 acres being created in the southern waters. The opposition comes from a concern that it would damage the environment seriously in the long run.

Those in support of the PSR have said that it would be reclaimed according to the strictest of environmental standards, following an approval to carry out the project by environmental regulators in 2019.

The project will help fund a RM46 billion Penang Transport Master Plan (PTMP), which will see a network of highways and a LRT line, among others, to be built in the next decade.

tags: fishermen, protest, Penang South Reclamation, Penang South Islands, Zakaria Ismail, PSR, PSI, PTMP - FMT