Author Topic: A sad day at Tokong Laut (temple of the sea) (Read 2718 times)

WDC · « **on:** May 01, 2009, 04:24:35 PM »

Thanks to dive centres Bubbles and Turtle Bay and the Marine Park Authorities who assisted straight away when we called them to ask for help in removing this massive net that covered our favourite dive site.

Apart from documenting the damage to corals and associated marine life, it also draws attention to the illegal fishing at night in Perhentian Marine Park waters. I've sent these pics to Taman Laut with a request that they patrol Tokong Laut at night. It would be great to see a return of fish in the numbers we used to get!

ScubaBunny · « **Reply #1 on:** May 01, 2009, 06:15:01 PM »

%$#@!

40bar · « **Reply #2 on:** May 01, 2009, 08:04:22 PM »

Bagman · « **Reply #3 on:** May 01, 2009, 09:35:38 PM »

Nooo

...such atrocity

...Aren't there already enough fishing going on in Malaysian waters??? This is very very sad

wak tong · « **Reply #4 on:** May 01, 2009, 09:43:42 PM »

Ketam · « **Reply #5 on:** May 01, 2009, 11:03:36 PM »

Lazy to say

Groovy70 · « **Reply #6 on:** May 02, 2009, 12:26:48 AM »

shafi · « **Reply #7 on:** May 02, 2009, 01:00:13 AM »

Those are really big fish nets!!

Are the fishermen are getting lazy to go further out to sea? Coming closer and closer within Marine Park Areas to fish!

And Tokong Laut is (or used to be) a great breeding ground for many types of fish. But we've already been seeing the fishing boats hanging around the area for a while now...

With the juveniles all gone, fish populations wont be able to sustain themselves through reproduction... Very soon, its going to be a food/income security issue, and not just an environmental one.

Such prized catch! A loss to our precious islands...

Thanks for sharing, WDC ... I'll be there next weekend for the SIP (with reporters in tow)...

Will work on an article asap on this.

sleepmonsterz · « **Reply #8 on:** May 02, 2009, 01:59:04 AM »

Tq for the info.

kelapa · « **Reply #9 on:** May 02, 2009, 08:59:29 AM »

good job wdc...

khai kogaku · « **Reply #10 on:** May 02, 2009, 01:12:56 PM »

no wonder theres less fishes in perhentian now days.

ScubaBunny · « **Reply #11 on:** May 02, 2009, 01:57:52 PM »

Thanks Shafi.

We can only hope for media coverage will put pressure on the govt to do something. Maybe can pass the photo taken by WDC (anke/peter) to the press too. My guess is that the boat that have done this may not be locals.

I was in Pangkor and I have a photo of fishing boat towing and its really close to the shore. M not sure if Pangkor is Gazetted but I think it is. But what are the marine parks are doing abt this?

Last mth when I was diving @ TARP, the marine park officials came near our boat and ask if we have paid the park fees. Not so far from us, there was a tourist boats with fishing rods! But they were all fussed up about US divers not paying marine fees!

WTF!!

Pls get the media to cover this, its just getting out of hand!

shafi · « **Reply #12 on:** May 02, 2009, 06:14:36 PM »

Quote from: ScubaBunny on May 02, 2009, 01:57:52 PM

Thanks Shafi.

We can only hope for media coverage will put pressure on the govt to do something. Maybe can pass the photo taken by WDC (anke/peter) to the press too. My guess is that the boat that have done this may not be locals.

Hi hi Bunny,

Right now, it doesn't matter if the fishing at T.Laut was done by locals or foreign boats. Its a MARINE PARK AREA... And the fact that it happened there....

Media can only write about it... the fishermen still need to fish as it is their source of livelihood, their families still need to eat, and we are also eating fish (which has to come from somewhere). So lets examine what is the problem here...

Enforcement? Ergh...

WDC · « **Reply #13 on:** May 02, 2009, 07:22:24 PM »

Those who dive this site will know that there are often a few fishing boats anchored up at the Susu Dara Islands (Rawa). Why would they be there? Cos at night they can fish all they want - there is a story from a fisherman last year who used strong lights to catch over RM 10,000 of trevally at Tokong Laut.

I've sent all the photos to the Marine Park Authorities and they responded to say they look into it. In a week or so I'll ask the guys at the Besut office what action was taken. We need to raise awareness for this and the Sugar Shipwreck issue, which is an environmental issue as well as it's acted as an artificial reef for the last 9 years and is teeming with fish! So much to do... so much to do....

Ketam · « **Reply #14 on:** May 02, 2009, 07:33:22 PM »

Quote from: shafi on May 02, 2009, 06:14:36 PM

Quote from: ScubaBunny on May 02, 2009, 01:57:52 PM
Thanks Shafi.

We can only hope for media coverage will put pressure on the govt to do something. Maybe can pass the photo taken by WDC (anke/peter) to the press too. My guess is that the boat that have done this may not be locals.

Hi hi Bunny,

Right now, it doesn't matter if the fishing at T.Laut was done by locals or foreign boats. Its a MARINE PARK AREA... And the fact that it happened there....

Media can only write about it... the fishermen still need to fish as it is their source of livelihood, their families still need to eat, and we are also eating fish (which has to come from somewhere). So lets examine what is the problem here...

Enforcement? Ergh...

Why set up a Marine park then? So we get grant from UN? So it looks good on travel brochures?

Fisherman are having a tough time (fuel prices and less catch) but to go against a gazetted law is not acceptable. Enforcement can of course be improved but what about foreign fisherman in Malaysian waters.

It all comes down to dollars and cents. Would visitors (especially us divers) agree to higher marine park fees to get better enforcement. Ketam say bring it on. If we care, lets put it to where it matters. We can pay more, but enforcement and conservation issues must be improved.

Figures people. Anybody have figures for park fees collection, operating cost, fisherman cost of living and such? No use talking but then just steps back and congratulating ourself for taking action.

Nizaha · « **Reply #15 on:** May 02, 2009, 08:53:22 PM »

Just suck it up guys. This thing a happen everyday around the world. local+ marine park officer = fish!!

Safe Diving
Zaha

nanda666 · « **Reply #16 on:** May 04, 2009, 02:12:54 PM »

Not to stray to far from the issue, the enforcement officers are government staff who are paid rather low and have an even lower level of education. (most of the time anyway.)

I agree that we divers should agree to pay more as marine park fee or any other cost that will DIRECTLY help.

Maybe part of the marine park fee goes to local fishermen? Wages of marine park staff? Additional marine park patrol?

I still feel the media is the best avenue to highlight the matter. any of these photos sent to the Sun Daily???

shafi · « **Reply #17 on:** May 04, 2009, 02:33:23 PM »

Quote from: Ketam on May 02, 2009, 07:33:22 PM

Quote from: shafi on May 02, 2009, 06:14:36 PM
Quote from: ScubaBunny on May 02, 2009, 01:57:52 PM
Thanks Shafi.

We can only hope for media coverage will put pressure on the govt to do something. Maybe can pass the photo taken by WDC (anke/peter) to the press too. My guess is that the boat that have done this may not be locals.

Hi hi Bunny,

Right now, it doesn't matter if the fishing at T.Laut was done by locals or foreign boats. Its a MARINE PARK AREA... And the fact that it happened there....

Media can only write about it... the fishermen still need to fish as it is their source of livelihood, their families still need to eat, and we are also eating fish (which has to come from somewhere). So lets examine what is the problem here...

Enforcement? Ergh...

Why set up a Marine park then? So we get grant from UN? So it looks good on travel brochures?

Fisherman are having a tough time (fuel prices and less catch) but to go against a gazetted law is not acceptable. Enforcement can of course be improved but what about foreign fisherman in Malaysian waters.

It all comes down to dollars and cents. Would visitors (especially us divers) agree to higher marine park fees to get better enforcement. Ketam say bring it on. If we care, lets put it to where it matters. We can pay more, but enforcement and conservation issues must be improved.

Figures people. Anybody have figures for park fees collection, operating cost, fisherman cost of living and such? No use talking but then just steps back and congratulating ourself for taking action.

Back to the old question - Why isn't my RM 5 per entry enough? I refuse to pay more until there is a public annoucement to say that our marine park fees are insufficient to contribute towards proper conservation and enforcement of our islands. Its not like we are in other countries where there are thousands of islands to be managed and protected from pirates and mafia fishermen. So the "we do not have enough staff" excuse does not hold water.

Anyway, I am sure the Ministry's Marine Park Department's accounts are auditable....

Cost of living for the fishing community? You can always carry out a social accountability standard of carrying out a food basket survey and follow ILO's formula of calculating Decent Living Wages and work backwards from there to see if our people are earning enough to survive. Then perhaps we can understand why there's overfishing... and probably strategise on how best to deal with this - like you said, increase our park fees and spread it to buffer the locals.

I am very curious about foreign fishermen in our waters - who are they / where did they come from / which country / whose boats and the license of fish in our waters...

Any one with a clue?

shafi · « **Reply #18 on:** May 04, 2009, 02:45:45 PM »

Quote from: WDC on May 02, 2009, 07:22:24 PM

Those who dive this site will know that there are often a few fishing boats anchored up at the Susu Dara Islands (Rawa). Why would they be there? Cos at night they can fish all they want - there is a story from a fisherman last year who used strong lights to catch over RM 10,000 of trevally at Tokong Laut.

Thanks for this info, WDC. I believe The Star newspaper had picked this up and featured it in a lengthy centre-piece spread on Perhentian...

So whose fishing boats are these and who issued the license? How is it that they have been able to visibly and blatantly park themselves within a Marine Park Area and fish...

Talk about patrolling - there is an established Marine Office on Perhentian Besar itself. Tokong Laut isnt that far away to patrol and the fish can't possibly be fished out of the water in less than 60 seconds.

Cant they do some random stake-outs or soemthing?

Oh yes, but they did send some officers to help you remove the nets later on...

nanda666 · « **Reply #19 on:** May 04, 2009, 05:14:15 PM »

From the fisheries act:

In section 25, the Act states that any person who contravenes or fails to comply with any provision of this Act shall be guilty of an offence and where no special penalty is provided in relation thereto, such person shall be liable to a fine not exceeding twenty thousand ringgit or a term of imprisonment not exceeding 2 years or both.

Problem with fishing is, there is a special penalty provided, if you follow the link below:

http://www.parlimen.gov.my/pdf/a317.pdf

and look at section 27 (1) and (4)

max fine RM 5000!!!

Hey.....any lawyers to double check this?????

nanda666 · « **Reply #20 on:** May 04, 2009, 05:18:07 PM »

opps!! that rule for mamalia aquatic!!

Flubber · « **Reply #21 on:** May 04, 2009, 05:45:13 PM »

Quote from: ScubaBunny on May 02, 2009, 01:57:52 PM

I was in Pangkor and I have a photo of fishing boat towing and its really close to the shore. M not sure if Pangkor is Gazetted but I think it is. But what are the marine parks are doing abt this?

Pangkor island is NOT a marine park. Which explains the lack of corals and sealife there!

The fishing boats that you saw were most probably anchovy (ikan bilis) boats. There was a newspaper report some months back about these boats fishing close to shore and it was later clarified that they were licensed for fishing anchovies which tend to stick close to the shore. Hence, their close proximity to the shore.

Johnny Ong · « **Reply #22 on:** May 05, 2009, 12:22:08 AM »

Quote from: Flubber on May 04, 2009, 05:45:13 PM

Quote from: ScubaBunny on May 02, 2009, 01:57:52 PM
I was in Pangkor and I have a photo of fishing boat towing and its really close to the shore. M not sure if Pangkor is Gazetted but I think it is. But what are the marine parks are doing abt this?

Pangkor island is NOT a marine park. Which explains the lack of corals and sealife there!

The fishing boats that you saw were most probably anchovy (ikan bilis) boats. There was a newspaper report some months back about these boats fishing close to shore and it was later clarified that they were licensed for fishing anchovies which tend to stick close to the shore. Hence, their close proximity to the shore.

Ya, u r right. Anchovy boats are rated as "Zon A" boat.

Arewhere · « **Reply #23 on:** May 05, 2009, 11:46:05 AM »

daud11 · « **Reply #24 on:** May 05, 2009, 12:22:55 PM »

very sad!

Ketam · « **Reply #25 on:** May 05, 2009, 03:49:29 PM »

so helpless

ketamnette · « **Reply #26 on:** May 06, 2009, 08:22:27 PM »

nazur · « **Reply #27 on:** May 07, 2009, 01:57:34 PM »

Bajaulaut · « **Reply #28 on:** May 07, 2009, 04:24:45 PM »

This issue came out in the local news early morning today on the local
TV station (TV3) with some bosses from the authority giving out statements.
Lets wait for the primetime news tonite.
Next time don't forget to email this sort of issue to Karam Singh Walia.
His email add - alamkaram at tv3.com.my

Adzri · « **Reply #29 on:** May 07, 2009, 05:54:29 PM »

Very sad story, one of the best dive site for me and thanks to everyone who indeed helping informng the authority, may the message go through to all the parties involved including the fishermans