KUCHING: Fishing activities in Bakun Lake need to be properly controlled to prevent over-fishing which could lead to extinction of fishes in the lake.
Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Dr James Jemut Masing warned that merchantable fish could become extinct in less than 10 years at the rate fishes were being netted in Bakun Lake now.
Masing who is Balleh assemblyman suggested that the government implement rules and regulations to prevent over fishing in the lake.
He said in the last two days he was in Bakun Lake watching the fishing activities and sales of the catch.
He noted that during good weather (at night), fish like semah, mengalan, cat fish and other species will migrate in the hundreds up the small tributaries around the Bakun Lake, offering easy catch for fishermen.
Masing said a fisherman could easily catch three tons of these fishes in one night.
“Observing the ways Bakun fishermen catch the fish, without regard to the size of the fish, I believe in less than 10 years, Bakun Lake will be deprived of merchantable fish unless the government implement rules and regulations to prevent over fishing,” said the Infrastructure and Ports Development Minister.
“We must stop fishing net of less than 2 1/2 inches to be used for fishing in all man-made lakes like Bakun, Murum, Batang Ai and Baleh hydro electricity dams.”
Masing also suggested that other fishing methods other than the traditional fishing methods be made illegal.
