Amrool (left) and Shukri doing their final check on their nets. Shukri said the flags are their float marker and they will change the flags to a new one when casting their nets on Monday.
Ikan Terusan maws weighing about 100 grammes are priced at about RM20,000 now.
IT was barely 7am. Fishermen Mohammad Shukri, 25 and his brother Amrool Sufri Abdullah, 20, who are both from a Belawai village, were already busy working in their fishing boats.
“I am repairing the lighting, we are planning to go to Tanjung Manis waters to fish for Ikan Terusan on Monday,” Shukri told BAT today.
Shukri said this will be their first outing after a long break due to the bad weather. He said the fishing community in the coastal area usually start their fishing activities after the Chinese New Year celebration.
He was being honest in saying the Ikan Terusan maws are selling at a very good price now, with 100 grammes normally selling at around RM20,000.
“My best catch was 112 grammes but that was when the price was still very low a few years ago, and we managed to sell them for RM12,000,” Shukri said.
Amrool, took the opportunity to appeal to the authorities to repair the dilapidated jetties in the area that are being used by some 40 fishermen.
“Although there are 40 families, the jetties cater for more than 50 boats as some of us have more than one unit (of boat),” he said.
Amrool’s family have two boats which are using lorry engines instead of the ordinary boat engines.
“Lorry engines are much cheaper at around RM2,000 for a reconditioned unit but we have to buy a new gear box that costs about RM4,000,” he said.
To facilitate their works, Amrool said their fishing boats are now equipped with a hydraulic system to cast their nets costing between RM2,000 and RM12,000 each.
“We bought this one at about RM12,000 some eight years ago. We are using 50 nets with an average length of about 25 yards each,” he explained.
Amrool said they really hoped that the authority would help them to repair and upgrade the dilapidated jetty soonest as the one they are using now are not very safe.
“Please help us get a better jetty for the good of everyone. We will also try to speak to everybody so that we can make a proper request via proper channel soon,” he concluded.