quote:
Originally posted by Marlin
Sild, the response to your plea has been poor. The number of views is low. People just don't read this conservation section, nor are most readers in MFN much interested in bag limits. Post this thread in the Bahasa Malay section, next to some of the recent Kenyir Lake trip reports and see what a response you get!
PLanning to do that earlier, but been caught up with works, will definitely do that now, thanks.</font id=“blue”>
MFN readers are probably the best educated, most well informed and environmentally aware section of the angling community in Malaysia. This is as good as it gets, Bro.
And yet, if one were to read many of the threads on MFN, one could be forgiven for thinking Malaysia is unique in the angling world. It apparantly has fisheries which are unaffected by the actions of rod and line fishermen. It has fisheries immune to overfishing. It has an angling community that believes responsibility for any ills in the angling world rests with someone else and that any problems should be cured by someone else, usually the government.
I do believe that in the continuing education campaign, Rod and Line Magazine has a vital role to play. At present, there are far too many inconsistencies in the presentation of the magazine and mixed messages conveyed to its readership. There are a couple of letters to the editor in the English version this month, one from me and one from Fizzy illustrating such inconsistencies. We need to see more of this so the editor and contributors also start to get the message.
I think the Bahasa Chinese version is worse judging from the photographs in it. These magazines need to carry a more consistent message.
I’m afraid that for waters like Kenyir and Temenggor, without legislation and enforced size and bag limits, the future is rather bleak. Unless Malaysia’s fisheries really are unique!
Bag limits need to be specified per angler, but also per boat. House boat trips allow large groups to fish economically and large groups of anglers can quickly take large numbers of fish from the areas popular with these operators. This also needs to be curbed by having boat limits stricter than the sum of the guys aboard.
Perhaps designated nursery areas, which are no go areas or strictly catch and release only areas can be set up to allow fish to breed and spill over into less restricted areas.
These areas have been selected and close for anglers all year round at least some rivers in Kenyir and Temenggor. Slighly better arrangement in Kenyir where they chained the river mouth entrance but not in Temenggor when people can ‘snake’ inside.
In Temenggor, they close those raeas and start logging; that is another story.</font id=“blue”>
A stricter licensing system for boat operators and guides with infringements of bag limits resulting in loss of operating licenses. This would ensure boat operators themselves look after the resource with a little more vigour than they currently do.
Have yet to see a fishing operator in Temenggor or Kenyir who’re really guarding their ‘cooking pots’. They encourage people to take loads of fish back, some for foods in their boathouse. They also scooped back angler’s catch which were released.
They themselves; after knowing that us anglers have been catching Kelisa,in less than 10min, starts their tiny boats and went to the very same place to catch their fries; they came back few hours later with several small Kelisa. Wrote something on it last year, pity didn’t managed to get it published.</font id=“blue”>
Authorities also need the power to stop and search fishing vessels to make sure limits are being observed. Fines need to be imposed for offenders. With limited access points to get in and out of the area, it shouldn’t be a big deal to police the numbers of fish being taken by anglers. This is actually the hardest bit of any legislative measures, because it causes resentment, usually among those who would break the law. The guys that observe the limits probably have no issues with being stopped and checked. In fact, they would welcome it.
They said, Perhilitan is enforcing a stricter rules this year; but saw no improvement.</font id=“blue”>
Commercial activity needs to be scrutinised and it’s contribution and importance to the local economy assessed. No good punishing anglers with bag limits when commercial activity remains unchecked. This really would be giving anglers a raw deal.
Some data few years back shows legal commercial fishing in Kenyir itself; believed it have been banned last year(?). BUT the culprits still remains which are the very same persons who are supposed to be the ‘guardiance’ of Kenyir. Quite shocked to find out during recent trip this year; where the guy behind us who chatted with us during the breakfast break at Kuala Berang is one of the police-guards in Kenyir. And the very same person last year put nets and rawai near Terenggan river. On the brighter side, maybe he had changed; and starts being a patrol-guards there which i doubt.[;)]</font id=“blue”>
There are rays of hope in the continuing efforts to educate anglers. A few enlightened individuals still take the time and trouble to write. But they also need to be seen to be consistent and fair in their behaviour. They set the standards for the rest. I don’t usually carry a fillet knife with me when I fish! The single mouthful of sebarau I tasted on our trip to Kenyir was my first taste of a Malaysian freshwater fish since I got here 3 years ago. Too many bones!
I don;t carry a fillet knife and don’t own one too but many do. In this case, it’s like “one man;s meat and another one’s poison”.
Local still are crazy with freshwater fishes; mostly bony fishes. yes the more bones in it like Terubok (Hilsa macrura) the better.
Sebarau is one of the best freshwater fishes to eat if prepared nicely. I took back 3 sebarau after that trip(despite some comments given to me that myself alone took 50 fish back home); gave it to my mother in law in Kerteh and that meal is the best sebarau i ever tasted!!! </font id=“blue”>
Rompin is a fine example of what can and should be done in Malaysia’s fisheries although with the attitude of most anglers, it’s an irony I have yet to figure out. Why do anglers release their sailfish where everywhere else the hunter gatherer mentality still prevails? If guys can afford a 4 wheel drive SUV and a boat, they don’t really need to be netting and they certainly don’t need the income from the fish they catch. Yet, I see this all the time in Malaysia. Why is this?
Hopefully the mentality will change in Malaysia; people are still taking sailfish back in west coast peninsula. Itt might have been a good businees nowadays in east coast peninsula that the operators is guarding their assets.</font id=“blue”>
Marlin's TAKE YOUR TRASH HOME campaign
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