Annual Betong festival boosts price of puffer fish

BETONG: The introduction of Pesta Ikan Buntal which started nearly a decade ago has helped to improve the livelihood of traditional fishermen in the division.

Betong Resident Datuk Romie Sigan Daniel said the annual festival aimed at promoting tourism in the division had increased the market value of the fish due to the demand generated.

“When we first started the festival in 2002 in Spaoh, about 30 minutes by road from Betong town, the fish was priced at RM3.50 per kilogramme but today it is RM8 per kilogramme.

“Over the years, the festival has created public awareness of ikan buntal and more people dare to eat the poisonous fish now as long as the fish is cleaned and prepared properly. Only the locals in Spaoh know how to get rid of the poison,” he said.

The locals normally consume the fish cooked as a hot and spicy dish or in asam pedas.

These dishes are made available to visitors during the festival, he told The Star recently.

Romie said ikan buntal was similar to the Japanese puffer fish, fugu.

He said the fish was unique because it was a seasonal species and normally abundant between May and September depending on the tide, turbidity of water and moon phase.

He said Spaoh would host the next Pesta Ikan Buntal on July 23 and 24.

Romie said Betong’s fragrant rice, “beras bajong”, also enjoyed better market price after the government introduced Pesta Beras Wangi a few years ago.

He said the popular rice could not be found in grocery shops in the division as people had booked it with the farmers, adding that it sells for around RM8 per kilogramme today.