Advertisement

Tagal harvest fest in Kiulu, Sabah

Irwan Majid6 years ago19th Mar 2019Pictures
Lingga kiulu013
Villagers using a net to catch pelian during the tagal harvest festival at Kg Lingga, Kiulu. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Irwan Majid, March 19, 2019.
Advertisement

“TAGAL” might be a foreign word to some but for Sabah’s KadazanDusun, it is the traditional practice of conservation of the river ecosystem. 

It refers to a temporary fishing ban and those who adopt the system are given the opportunity to reap the reward of their abstinence only once a year. 

Scientists say tagal is a system ahead of its time with the practice passed down for generations.

Today, kampung which adopt the system enjoy an abundance of fish which can be sold at the markets.

There is a customary law and those who break it must pay the price in the form of a cow. 

For some, the tagal period lasts up to two years and it is lifted once every six months. 

During the time, participants can catch as much fish as they can in usually about five hours. – March 19, 2019.

Advertisement
Advertisement