‘In 10 years, we may not be here’: Johor’s Orang Seletar threatened simply by dwindling seafood catch

“I was caught in a heavy downpour once. My ship was filled with drinking water and I had to pay out to get it fixed, ” he additional.  

Mr Kun, the particular prawn fisherman, echoed similar sentiments.  

“The large rain and strong winds are getting more frequent. It’s more difficult for me to pull up the nets during storms, ” he additional.

He as well said his general earnings from fishing had dropped “more than half” over the last decade, partly due to the weather.

LAND RECLAMATION ALSO DIMINISHES FISHING CATCH 

Dr Serina mentioned that development projects along the Johor Strait, which involve land reclamation, have also diminished seafood catch for the Orang Seletar.  

“As shorelines expand, seas turn out to be smaller. Fishermen find it difficult to get to sea since marine areas are usually carved out for personal or industrial use, ” she mentioned.  

“The whole stretch of the Johor Strait confronts development pressures as well as the impact on marine habitats in the area affects everyone – local anglers and all the jamaah asli who fish along the strait too, ” she added.  

The girl noted how, for instance, that land along the Danga Bay is being used for a myriad of development projects, including home and commercial purposes. She added this impacts the Orang Seletar directly, especially those who reside in Kampung Sungai Temon and Kampung Bakar Batu.

A fisherwoman, exactly who wanted to be identified only as Mitt, was catching mussels near Kampung Sungai Temon when the girl told CNA that a large dune associated with sand currently harnesses over her village, spilling into the shoreline.

The lady claimed that it was positioned there by a land developer “some years ago”, as part of the initial process of reclamation.  

“This location used to have mangroves, plus there used to be abundance of crabs, prawns as they lay eggs on the banks, ” said Mdm Mina.

Read more on: https://www.channelnewsasia.com/asia/malaysia-johor-strait-orang-seletar-climate-change-coastal-developments-2766396

.