About 200 fishermen in Sungai Kemasik urge authorities to deepen a shallow river mouth affecting their livelihoods, says association.
CHUKAI: About 200 fishermen in Sungai Kemasik have urged the relevant authorities, particularly the Drainage and Irrigation Department (DID), to deepen the increasingly shallow river mouth, which is affecting their livelihoods.
Fisherman Mohd Raffi Yusoff, 58, said dredging works were last carried out two years ago, but the problem has resurfaced, believed to be due to high tide phenomena.
“In addition to immediate dredging, we are also calling on the authorities to identify a long-term solution.
“High tides have caused sediment build-up, making the river mouth shallow again. The same issue has now recurred, making it difficult for us to go out to sea,” he said when met by reporters today.
He added that the shallow conditions force fishermen to manually push their boats to deeper waters before starting the engines, a task that is especially challenging for older fishermen.
Another fisherman, Ayob Endut, 53, said he has had to moor his Class C boat at the Kuala Kertih jetty, about 12 kilometres from the Sungai Kemasik estuary, due to the situation.
“My boat cannot pass through the river mouth until dredging works are carried out,” he said.
Meanwhile, Kemasik Area Fishermen’s Association (PNK) manager Sabarino Mat Hassan said the association had submitted an application to the DID last month for the department to deepen the river mouth and hopes prompt action will be taken.
“Fishermen here have also urged the DID to conduct a comprehensive study to prevent recurring sedimentation at the river mouth after the deepening work is carried out,” he said.
