Traditional Malaysian fishermen will be losing about 40% of their fishing grounds to the development of the new Samalaju Port in Bintulu.
These fishing grounds covering nearly 19ha will be reclaimed for the construction of the port platform areas and other structures, such as wave breaker and berthing areas.
Some 80 fishermen from Kampung Kuala Nyalau, a fishing village and the nearest settlement to the port project site, will be affected, according to its approved preliminary environmental impact assessment (PEIA) report.
They made up more than 11% of the total number of fishermen in Bintulu Division. The affected fishermen operate generally small wooden and fibreglass boats powered mostly by 30hp to 40hp outboard engines.
Bintulu Port Holdings Bhd, which was tasked by the state government to undertake the new port project, awarded the contract for the construction of the interim port facilities to Trans Resources Corporation Sdn Bhd for RM193.9mil more than a week ago.
The facilities include a ro-ro ramp and two berths of 160m in length for barges to bring in building materials, machinery and plants for the construction of manufacturing facilities for energy-intensive industries in Samalaju Industrial Park, and other goods.
Construction of the port is expected to start later this year for operational in 2015.
Chemsain Konsultant Sdn Bhd is the port’s environmental consultant.
The PEIA report said the loss of the fishing area southeast of the proposed port project within an area known as Wiser Bay was identified by Nyalau fishermen as one of their most important fishing grounds.
Similarly, it said some of the fishing grounds at reef areas affected by an increase in total suspended solids caused by dredging and piling works during construction might not be suitable for fishing during the south-east monsoon, which happens to be the fishing season for fishermen from Kpg Kuala Nyalau.
Many of the reefs and rocky areas are fishing grounds for more highly prized fish such as groupers.
The report said the port project would negatively affected the livelihood of the Nyalau villagers as they might lose significant incomes.
To mitigate the impacts, it suggested that the affected fishermen be included in the project proponent’s corporate social responsibility (CSR) programme.
Apart from initial compensation, attempts should be made to enable these fishermen to continue their activities. These may include placing of reef balls at strategic locations near to the coastal areas of Kuala Nyalau towards Tg Payong which is further from the project site.
These reef ball sites will act as new fishing areas, said the report.
During the operation and maintenance of the new port, it was suggested that these fishermen should be allowed to fish at fishing grounds of their choice within 12 nautical miles from the new Samalaju Port exclusive limit zone, excluding the vessel approach channel area, vessel berthing zone and turning basin area inside the port basin for safety reason.
Other mitigative measures are to:
·expand the fish cage culture activities at Sg Nyalau estuary by building additional 500 cages for the affected fishermen to participate and
·give priority to the affected villagers in employment opportunities.
It was also suggested that greater efforts be made by relevant government agencies to modernise the traditional fishermen by promoting the development of aquaculture projects and downstream fish processing industries through training and financial assistance especially among their children.
Such initiatives are meant to reduce the families’ dependency on fishing activities.
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