KOTA BHARU: To reduce the dependence on marine produce as a source of income, 40 fishermen in Pantai Pulau Kundor here have taken the initiative to start aquaculture to ensure a steadier stream of income especially when the weather is not suitable for fishing.
A Bernama observation of the area, found rows of cages built in the estuary of Pulau Kundor River by the fishermen . Among thefishes farmed here are sea bass (ikan siakap), tilapia, and catfish (keli). It is learned that grouper is not suitable to be cultured here as it is a brackish water area.
A group of fishermen on the fish cage platform warmly received the arrival of the Bernama journalist. They did not go to sea as there was a prevailing strong wind and the condition was not suitable to lay their trawl and it was also not safe for both the fishermen and their boat.
A fish farmer, Mohd Nor Mat, 59, said the fish cage farm they have working on has turned out to be a gold mine for their families as well as their children’s education.
He and 40 other fishermen here began the cage fish farming project eight years ago on their own. Members of the group have between four to 10 cages and he himself has eight.
Mohd Nor said fish fries reaching the size of between 400 to 800 grammes would be transferred to the cage.
“The bigger fries are less likely to die and can grow faster,” he said and added that each cage can ideally hold 80 fish.
“Demand for the fish over here is very encouraging. Traders are always coming for more fish,” he said.
“I prefer to keep the fish to a bigger size to fetch better price,” he said.
Mohd Nor said he and his friends are still going to sea as their main occupation and the fish farming would engage them when they could not go fishing.
His friend Idris Hassan, 59, said even though they are full-time fishermen, they could only carry out intensive fishing for three months in a year while the rest of the time would depend on the condition of the sea.
“It is therefore a blessing that we have fish farms, to ensure a constant stream of income from the sale of fish at between RM16 and RM17 per kilogramme,” he said.
Another fish farmer Asri Husin, 55, said he was drawn to fish farming while observing his friends who could live comfortably even during the monsoon season.
He began with two cages and added more cages when he noticed the lucrative returns from the activity.
Mohd Azizan Darus, 41, said fish farmers have to be prepared to face the risks of aquaculture.
“There are times when the fish will suddenly die or when the cages get damaged, thus incurring a huge cost to us,” he said and added the good price of sea bass sometimes exceeding RM17 per kilogramme made the effort worth the while. – Bernama
