More than 100 fishermen and mussel breeders in Kampung Pasir Putih halt operations due to a palm oil spill affecting coastal waters
JOHOR BAHRU: More than 100 fishermen, including 27 mussel breeders in Kampung Pasir Putih, have been affected by an oil spill in the village’s coastal waters.
Kampung Pasir Putih Fishermen’s Association head Hamzah Allahdita said the spill is believed to be palm oil and was detected yesterday afternoon.
He estimated the spill has spread over a one-kilometre stretch and is suspected to have originated from a palm oil processing plant.
“The oil follows the water current and parts of the sea surface are clearly coated with a yellowish layer,” he told Bernama when met at the village jetty.
Hamzah added that many fishing boats have also been smeared with the oil residue.
He confirmed that no mussels or fish have been reported dead from the incident.
Harvesting has been temporarily suspended for two to three days as a precaution to ensure food safety.
“The mussels are still alive, but when we clean them, they’re oily and customers won’t buy them in that condition,” he explained.
Fishermen and mussel farmers have suspended all fishing and aquaculture activities while cleanup works are carried out.
This disruption has affected their main source of income during the suspension period.
A mussel raft operator, Faizul Jumat Ismail, said his daily output of more than 300 kilograms of seafood has now come to a complete halt.
“My estimated losses are around 20,000 ringgit because we can’t continue working or sell our products,” he said.
Faizul expressed hope that the impact of the spill would not drag on and affect their livelihoods for too long.
A Bernama check at the site found cleanup operations actively underway with about 30 workers involved.
Workers are using various methods including jetting water, flushing and removing oil residues from the seabed.
A representative from the cleaning company said the process is expected to take two to three days.
They aim to restore the coastal waters to a clean and safe condition for fishing activities.
Meanwhile, Seri Alam district police chief ACP Mohd Sohaimi Ishak said 10 police reports have been lodged by fishermen over the incident.
He confirmed that investigations into the oil spill are ongoing. – Bernama
