Fishermen in south Johor beset by challenges at every corner

COASTAL fishermen are facing constant challenges due to climate change and vast development projects coming up in the southernmost parts of Johor.

ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute Singapore visiting fellow Dr Serina Rahman said climate change had resulted in more extreme weather phenomena like fierce storms and heatwaves.

Serina says extreme weather has affected fishermen’s ability to go to sea.

“This has a direct effect on fishermen’s ability to head out to sea,’’ she said in an interview at Kampung Pendas Laut in Gelang Patah.

She said severe storms put the fishermen at greater risk when at sea and often, they had to turn back. Sometimes, they cannot head out at all.

Those using small boats cannot risk their life heading out to sea when weather conditions are not on their side.

Serina said this problem had compromised their livelihoods because of fewer days spent at sea.

The storms are also harder to predict these days.

“Our research on weather conditions (with input from coastal fishermen) reveals that the wind can change direction many times a day,” she added.

In the past, winds were constant (if westerlies, then steady winds blow from the west for a few days). Now, however, the wind direction can change in a day.

“Fishermen can head out in fine weather but get hit by an unexpected storm while they are away from shore,” said Serina.

Accidents caused by large waves are happening more frequently and monsoon surges do not follow long-held patterns.

“Nothing is predictable anymore.

“More frequent rain also affects water quality. The rain increases nutrients from run-off, causing the growth of unwanted algae in the water,” Serina explained.

“The algae affects the fisherman’s catch and damages nets.

“Fishermen normally repair damaged nets every month; now they have to perform this task every two to three weeks,” she added.

The ever-changing seawater temperature also had a direct impact on marine life, said Serina.

“Marine creatures do not like these different temperatures,” she said, citing as example that in very cold weather, crabs seem to disappear.

She said the movements of marine species had changed too.

Fishermen now find it harder to read the seasons and weather.

Azli says land reclamation along the shoreline has shrunk their fishing zones.

South Johor Fishermen Association chairman Azli Mohd Aziz said there were good days and bad days for them.

“Sometimes, our catch is bountiful and sometimes, it is not worth going out to sea,’’ he said.

He added that the weather, tides and water temperature seemed to change every other day.

Another major factor impacting the income of fishermen in recent years is development taking place in south Johor.

Azli lamented that large-scale land reclamation projects along the shoreline had shrunk their fishing zones.

“Our income has declined by more than half in the past five or six years due to land reclamation for multi-billion-ringgit waterfront property projects.”

He said the fishermen’s operating cost was also going up year by year as they needed to replace damaged nets and maintain their boats including the engine.

“Buying a boat is costly. Previously, a 20ft fibre boat would cost about RM12,000 but now, the price has shot up to RM20,000,” said Azli.

There are about 2,500 coastal fishermen in south Johor and their fishing areas within 10 nautical miles cover Tanjung Piai, Iskandar Puteri, Pulai, Johor Baru, Pasir Gudang and Tebrau.