MUKAH: Despite the current fasting month (Ramadan), fishermen in Mukah are still going out to sea when the weather is good.
Mukah is famous for its delicious fresh fish. This coastal town, which serves as the capital and the administrative centre of the Mukah Division since March 1, 2002, often experiences bountiful harvest from the sea, especially after the celebration of the Kaul Festival.
The majority of Mukah’s population are the Melanau people.
Melanaus celebrate the Kaul Festival, a religious ceremony to appease the spirits of the sea, land, forest and farm and ask for help from the ‘ipok-ipok’ (spirits/guardians) so that the sea and land are overflowing with sustenance throughout the year.
Over the years, the celebration of Kaul has changed due to the presence of new religions and cultures.
The Kaul Festival was not held this year due to the Covid-19 pandemic and because Mukah was a red zone.
The spirits/guardians have, apparently, been answering the prayers of the local people for good harvests from the sea for Mukah is flooded with seafood round the year.
‘Payak Merah’ (a type of prawns) are available all year round. 
Piles of fish on a table at the Mukah wet market.
During the hot season, more fish is caught as the sea is not that rough and small boats can venture out further from the shore.
Mukah fishermen are indeed brave. Although their boats are small, they are not afraid of the vast sea. They also know they have no problems selling their catches because there is a high demand for fish in the town at all times.
The influx of tamban fish, geragau prawns (bubok), prawns or ‘payak’ (in Melanau) and selar fish usually occurs during the hot season.
Although more expensive, the selar fish and tamban fish are very popular and highly demanded. The fish caught using ‘panau’ nets are also more expensive than those caught using trawls or tugs.
Various types of fish caught by the fishermen in Mukah. 
Black and white pomfret, mackerel, terubuk and more are available at the Mukah wet market.
Fresh fish from Mukah such as pirang, bawal, mackerel and terubok are usually used in umai (a dish of sliced raw fish).
The Melanaus prefer to eat fish rather than chicken, beef and mutton.
They have many ways of enjoying fish such as umai, masak asam, curry, wet and dried salted fish (‘beloh’, ‘kidieng’, ‘pipus’ ‘bahiek’, ‘tamok’ in Melanau), smoked, grilled, fish tebaloi and ikan pais (fish wrapped in banana leaves or young nipah).
The delicious fish from Mukah waters is not only popular with the local community but also communities from outside the division such as Sibu, Selangau and Kanowit.
A variety of fresh fish caught using nets, fishing rods, tugs and so on are always available for sale at the Mukah wet market. Fresh fish is available even during the monsoon season or festivals.
Mukah fishermen remain loyal to the sea regardless of the time of the year because it brings them much happiness and bountiful harvests.
