MUKAH: What do local fishermen do when the weather is not favourable for fishing?
According to Mukah/Oya Area Fishermen Association (Moafa) chairman, Ali Hamid, most of them will repair their vessels, engines and fishing nets.
“At the same time, they also switch to other income generating activities like catching fish and prawns in the rivers or streams,” he added.
Meanwhile, Wahab Sahari, who owned a number of fishing boats, said: “Those who have land might harvest cash crops and vegetables to ensure there is food on the table for their families.
“Those with mature sago palm trees will cut and sell them.”
However, he added river fishing would continue as the fishermen’s alternative income generating activity during the wet season.
He pointed out that the living allowance for fishermen from the government including the subsidised petrol helped to alleviate their financial burden when they could not go out to the sea to fish.
At present, Moafa has 786 members comprising Melanaus (80%), Chinese (10%), Ibans (9%) and Malays (1%).
