Mohd Noor pointing at Pulau Lima, which is 2km from Tanjung Penyusop. Its reefs are home to large lobsters, some weighing over 3kg and fetching up to RM130 per kg.
Residents in Kampung Dato’ Abdul Ghani Othman, Teluk Ramunia, Pengerang, Johor are hoping to turn the village into a lobster hub as a way to attract tourists.
To make this plan a reality, they are applying for a RM100,000 grant from the Sejahtera Komuniti Madani (SejaTi Madani) programme.
Village chief Mohd Noor Jamil said with support from the Kota Tinggi District Office, the villagers planned on using the funds to transform the kampung into a lobster hub, offering fresh seafood at affordable prices.
“We are finalising the paperwork with the district office and expect to submit our application soon.
“Recently, villagers pooled our resources to build a flat-bottom boat that we expect to complete by the end of this month.
“Some village homes have also been renovated to meet demand for homestay accommodation.
“The cost is RM450 per night for up to 20 people,” he said when contacted.
When asked about the village’s attractions, Mohd Noor said they plan to use the boat for island tours around Pulau Lima, about 2km from Tanjung Penyusop jetty.
“Visitors will be taken around the island to see the lighthouse and given a demonstration on how we catch lobsters.
“They will then have a meal at local restaurants serving freshly-caught seafood,” he said.
Mohd Noor said the flat-bottom boat was suitable for the rocky seabed surrounding the island.
“These reefs are home to some of Tanjung Penyusop’s largest lobsters, weighing over 3kg,” he said.“Each kilogramme of lobster sells for up to RM130, depending on the market price and there’s no daily catch limit.“Each day, fishermen set their lobster traps in the morning and check them in the evening.
“Typically, they sell just one lobster daily to cover expenses.
“Extra lobsters are kept in cages placed in the open sea to maintain freshness.”Mohd Noor, who is also a member of the Pengerang Fishermen Association, added that there were 59 licensed lobster fishermen in the area.
“About 90% of the lobsters are sold directly to local restaurants and hotels, with the remainder exported to Singapore.
“Our aim is to ensure that all Johoreans can enjoy locally-caught, fresh seafood at an affordable price,” he added.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim was reported to have said that the SejaTi Madani programme aims to empower communities through socioeconomic activities.
“We are giving direct responsibility and challenging the villages to do so as they will each be given an allocation of between RM50,000 and RM100,000,” he had said.
