The Malaysian Insight

PENANG’S controversial reclamation project will impact on the nation’s fish supply and could drive up prices for a household staple, Malaysia’s top fisheries authority told The Malaysian Insight.

Sand mining in waters off the coast of Perak for the Penang South Reclamation (PSR) would destroy fish-breeding grounds that currently supply the biggest chunk of landed fish in Malaysia, said the Fisheries Development Board (LKIM).

According to LKIM’s data, Perak supplies about 30% of all landed fish in the country, the highest among all states.

LKIM chairman Faiz Fadzil said the state governments must meet with the fishermen of their respective states to look into these concerns as about 800 and 6,000 fishermen in Penang and Perak respectively, stand to lose their livelihoods.

LKIM is prepared to be a mediator for such a meeting, said Faiz, as each state government is responsible for fishermen communities in its respective region.

“There is basis for the fishermen’s concerns. Any reclamation project will threaten fish eco-systems and their breeding grounds. The only question is how much of an impact,” Faiz told The Malaysian Insight.

“Perak is the state with the highest fish landings so any impact on its supply will impact prices.”

PSR aims to build three artificial islands off the southern coast of Penang island. The state intends to use the three man-made islands, covering more than 1,800ha, to fund an ambitious RM46 billion transport master plan.

Environmentalists and community groups have opposed the PSR as well as the transport master plan, which includes cutting hills, building highways and an undersea tunnel connecting Penang island to the mainland.

Perak fishermen and local green group Kuasa claimed that the PSR’s environmental impact assessment report (EIA) reveals that sand for the project will be mined from Perak.

According to the EIA, more than 189 million cubic metres of sand would be needed and miners plan to extract this from four areas about 20 nautical miles from the Manjung coast.

Perak fishermen’s association chairman Mansor Yusof said sand mining destroys fishing grounds because the turbid water it produces suffocates sea life.

“It will also erode the coastline which will then destroy nearby mangrove forests which are important fish spawning areas,” Mansor added.

As fishing landings decrease in Perak, the supply for local fish nationwide will be affected and this will drive up prices.

LKIM’s Faiz added that the Agriculture and Agro-based Ministry was also conducting its own study on the PSR’s impact on the fishing industry and would bring these concerns to Perak and Penang.

“The national physical planning council is also doing its own study on all aspects of PSR’s impact and we hope that this can be revealed soon.” – July 26, 2019.