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| The longhouse for guests to stay. |
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| Somuil and his wife Norzailly in front of their restaurant. |
KOTA
KINABALU: A non-profit foundation will be working towards the
conservation of coastal fishing ground around Kampung Terongkongan in
Kudat.
BEST Society has offered to commit
RM100,000 over the next ten years to work on conservation of the coastal
reef fishing ground around Kampung Terongkongan, which is about two and
a half hours’ drive from here.
This initiative
will include educating the local residents there on the far-reaching
impact of fish bombing, and to help restore marine life to allow it to
recover from fishing bombing activities in the past.
Making
such an offer was Albert Teo, director-cum-founder of BEST Society
which is the non-profit foundation of Borneo Eco Tours and Sukau
Rainforest Lodge.
Teo, who is also the managing
director/chairman of Borneo Eco Tours Malaysia, said BEST Society had
decided to undertake the project following a recent visit there, where
he learnt about the depressing tale of rampant fish bombing in the area,
from a local Rungus couple who are operating their homestay outfit
there.
The couple, Somuil and Norzailly, had voiced their concern over the increasing fish bombing activities near their beach.
According to Norzailly, these illegal fishermen normally come in small boats and would use their homemade bombs to fish.
“This
method of fishing not only kills a large number of fish and other
marine organisms in the vicinity but also destroys the physical
structure of coral reefs. On average, a one kilogram (35 ounce)
beer-bottle bomb can leave a rubble crater of approximately one to two
meters in diameter, destroying 50 to 80 per cent of the corals in that
area.
“If nothing is done to stop such activities,
it will eventually lead to worsening poverty and even malnutrition
among the local folk there.
“We hope to get
support from other NGOs and the relevant government departments in this
effort to eradicate poverty. Anyone who is interested to join us fight
against poverty are welcome to join us in this project,” said Teo in a
statement yesterday.
He expressed both concern and
regret that such activities were seriously hampering the effort of
natives like Somuil and Norzailly to uplift their living standard.
“Somuil
is one person who genuinely tries to bring change to the community by
developing homestay and tourism, snorkelling and scuba diving.
“But
his effort to eradicate poverty through eco-tourism is being hampered
by fishermen from outside the village who are systematically destroying
the coral reefs and killing marine life.
“He knows
that it is not easy for the authorities to tackle this problem.
However, he is confident that with the help of the authorities and
stringent law enforcement, they can overcome this problem. He believed a
lot of great things can be achieved with positive thinking and
perseverance,” Teo noted.
He also regretted that
although many reports had been lodged with the Marine Department and
many patrols by the marine police, these illegal fishermen still return
and continue with their fish bombing activities.
In
Malaysia, bombing is an offence and any individual caught could be
charged under Section 26(1) of the Fisheries Act 1985 which carries a
maximum fine of up to RM20,000, or a jail term of up to two years, or
both, on conviction.
Named Tindakon Dazang Beach
Longhouse, the long house operated by Somuil, consists of 12 rooms and a
restaurant and meeting room on an eight-acre land facing the South
China Sea.
According to his wife Norzailly, the
walls of the house are entirely made of traditional materials such as
split bamboos and Darasan tree bark while the roofs are made of nipah
palm leaves.
The longhouse is equipped with modern amenities like toilets and showers.
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