Our blood cockles are dying. Can we stop the killing?


Small harvests : Mohd Fadillah Kahar’s cockle collection for the day being hauled up. — FAIHAN GHANI/ The Star

Selangor fishermen are no longer assured of bountiful cockle harvests. Sea pollution is to blame for the disappearing clams, they say.

In May 2012, fisherman Kahar Buntal had a shock when he hauled up his harvest of blood cockles from the sea – it was mostly empty shells. This happened throughout the entire season which spanned six months. “The yield for that year was low. We estimated that half of the harvest was dead,” recalls the 62-year-old from Bagan Sungai Buloh, a fishing settlement in Jeram, off Kuala Selangor.

The Star Festive Promo: Get 35% OFF Digital Access

Monthly Plan

RM 13.90/month

Best Value

Annual Plan

RM 12.33/month

RM 8.02/month

Billed as RM 96.20 for the 1st year, RM 148 thereafter.

Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel for breaking news alerts and key updates!

Next In Environment

Ecowatch: Trees are amazing, and we have the numbers to prove it
Cowboys of the East: Still holding the reins on tradition
Planetary Health Matters: Climate disinformation is getting worse
Ecowatch: A breath of fresh air in renewable energy
Ecowatch: Malaysia’s natural heritage is calling out for protection
Planetary Health Matters: The year we choose resolve over retreat
Ecowatch: When climate aid falls short
Ecowatch: Malaysia is working on its own green funds
Planetary Health Matters: Sumatra floods are a wake-up call for Malaysia
Wild and woolly crime around the world

Others Also Read