Hands-off policy conserves fish stocks
Joe FernandezPublished: Jun 10, 2009 3:25 PM | Updated: Jun 10, 2009 3:34 PM
The Sabah Fisheries Department (SFD) is celebrating the success of its ‘tagal’ system that restricts fishing in any stretch of river to twice a year.
It’s all about sustainable management of fishing, with the help of communities who are direct stakeholders in the health of Sabah's rivers.
The Sabah Fisheries Department (SFD) is celebrating the success of its ‘tagal’ system that restricts fishing in any stretch of river to twice a year.
Its implementation has meant a comeback for endangered species like the pelian, serawi, sinsilog, betuan and kelah. ‘Tagal’ means ‘don’t take’ in the Dusun language.
SFD director Rayner Steul Galid said this community-based resource management programme “plays a key role in the sustainable management of fisheries, aquaculture and the aquatic environment”.
Kadamaian state assemblyperson Herbert Timbun Lagadan said the system has instilled discipline in villagers.
Kota Belud District Officer Najib Montok noted that the system is a unique way to conserve fish like the kelah which was nearly extinct, adding “it is rare to find a river like Sungei Kadamaian rich in freshwater fish like the kelah”.
Villager Japanis, a Dusun from Kampung Tambatuon in Kota Belud, described the festive mood as people fish and feast on their catch together during Pesta Tagal, which follows the annual Tadau Ka’amatan (harvest festival).
Sabah has 212 ‘tagal’ areas involving 107 rivers in 11 districts.
The system is enforced by the Native Courts which can impose heavy fines ranging from money and chickens to pigs and buffaloes for transgressions.
The SFD is now promoting the system to new areas.
Neighbouring Sarawak has adopted the system, but has renamed it ‘Tagang’ (‘forbidden’ in Iban). The system is being implemented in 23 villages stretching from Kuching to Limbang. Fishing is prohibited in the first two years after the fish fry has been released.
There are plans to extend the ‘tagal’ system to the sea, according to Sabah Agriculture and Food Industry Minister Yahya Hussin, who will seek RM5 million in government funding for the extension.
The SFD will use mega-size concrete artificial reefs in their conservation and rehabilitation programmes under the system at sea. A pilot project has been launched in Kuala Penyu along the west coast of Sabah.
“This is an environment-friendly project that will not only boost and sustain marine stocks but also provide long-term benefits to the local fishermen and community in the area,” said Yahya.
The ‘sea tagal’ is an initiative under the Sulu-Sulawesi Marine Eco-Region Programme.
Sabah Anglers Association president Wildfred Lingham, hailing it as “timely and smart”, pointed out that the oceans sustain the planet.
“There is already a worldwide stark warning that the future food security of millions of people is at risk. Over-fishing, climate change and pollution are inflicting massive damage to the world's oceans,” he said.
Communities in partnership
‘Tagal’ is a partnership between communities and the government, with the SFD as the lead agency for protecting, rehabilitating, conserving and managing riverine fishery resources.
To participate in this partnership, each community must have traditional use rights, preferably to several deep pools in a river, and manage and use its fishery resources under the leadership of the village head.
State fisheries officers and district officers act as consultants to the ‘tagal’ committees. The communities have to protect their riverine fishery resources from poaching, over-fishing, illegal fishing and any activity that may pollute the rivers and destroy fish habitats.
The communities have the privilege to harvest the fish once or twice a year in a sustainable manner, sharing the harvest equally among their members.
The system is financed through annual contributions, sale of the catch, and eco-tourism ventures such as boat rentals, sale of food and accommodation, fees charged for sport fishing, and fish feeding.
The income is used to cover administrative expenses, to support community members in financial difficulty, and for communal festivities.
The SFD acts as technical adviser to ‘tagal’ committees, monitors the progress of the system, carries out research, and implements capacity-building measures. It also promotes eco-tourism activities such as catch-and-release sport fishing and fish feeding.
Its implementation has meant a comeback for endangered species like the pelian, serawi, sinsilog, betuan and kelah. ‘Tagal’ means ‘don’t take’ in the Dusun language.
SFD director Rayner Steul Galid said this community-based resource management programme “plays a key role in the sustainable management of fisheries, aquaculture and the aquatic environment”. Kadamaian state assemblyperson Herbert Timbun Lagadan said the system has instilled discipline in villagers.
Kota Belud District Officer Najib Montok noted that the system is a unique way to conserve fish like the kelah which was nearly extinct, adding “it is rare to find a river like Sungei Kadamaian rich in freshwater fish like the kelah”.
Villager Japanis, a Dusun from Kampung Tambatuon in Kota Belud, described the festive mood as people fish and feast on their catch together during Pesta Tagal, which follows the annual Tadau Ka’amatan (harvest festival).
Sabah has 212 ‘tagal’ areas involving 107 rivers in 11 districts. The system is enforced by the Native Courts which can impose heavy fines ranging from money and chickens to pigs and buffaloes for transgressions.
The SFD is now promoting the system to new areas.
Neighbouring Sarawak has adopted the system, but has renamed it ‘Tagang’ (‘forbidden’ in Iban). The system is being implemented in 23 villages stretching from Kuching to Limbang. Fishing is prohibited in the first two years after the fish fry has been released.
There are plans to extend the ‘tagal’ system to the sea, according to Sabah Agriculture and Food Industry Minister Yahya Hussin, who will seek RM5 million in government funding for the extension.
The SFD will use mega-size concrete artificial reefs in their conservation and rehabilitation programmes under the system at sea. A pilot project has been launched in Kuala Penyu along the west coast of Sabah.
“This is an environment-friendly project that will not only boost and sustain marine stocks but also provide long-term benefits to the local fishermen and community in the area,” said Yahya.
The ‘sea tagal’ is an initiative under the Sulu-Sulawesi Marine Eco-Region Programme.
Sabah Anglers Association president Wildfred Lingham, hailing it as “timely and smart”, pointed out that the oceans sustain the planet.
“There is already a worldwide stark warning that the future food security of millions of people is at risk. Over-fishing, climate change and pollution are inflicting massive damage to the world's oceans,” he said.
Communities in partnership
‘Tagal’ is a partnership between communities and the government, with the SFD as the lead agency for protecting, rehabilitating, conserving and managing riverine fishery resources.
To participate in this partnership, each community must have traditional use rights, preferably to several deep pools in a river, and manage and use its fishery resources under the leadership of the village head.State fisheries officers and district officers act as consultants to the ‘tagal’ committees. The communities have to protect their riverine fishery resources from poaching, over-fishing, illegal fishing and any activity that may pollute the rivers and destroy fish habitats.
The communities have the privilege to harvest the fish once or twice a year in a sustainable manner, sharing the harvest equally among their members.
The system is financed through annual contributions, sale of the catch, and eco-tourism ventures such as boat rentals, sale of food and accommodation, fees charged for sport fishing, and fish feeding. The income is used to cover administrative expenses, to support community members in financial difficulty, and for communal festivities.
The SFD acts as technical adviser to ‘tagal’ committees, monitors the progress of the system, carries out research, and implements capacity-building measures. It also promotes eco-tourism activities such as catch-and-release sport fishing and fish feeding.
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