There were less fish landings and fishmongers have had to go the extra mile by sourcing supplies from the East Coast as well. It is fact that overfishing has killed the local fishing industry and so there is a surge in the prices of fish. The inactivity of purse-seine (pukat jerut) boats during the monsoon period between November and February further compounded the scant fish supply problem, with only traw-net vessels (trawlers) going out to sea in this period.
Fishmonger Asnan Ahmad, 36, who operates at the Central Market here said he had to up the prices of fish after fishermen came back with only a limited amounts due to strong winds and high waves. Another fishmonger Muji Tawor, 39, is now selling tenggiri for RM15 per kg compared to RM12.50 previously.
A fish seller who declined to be named said he had to sell his ikan bawal putih at RM35 per kg while another is selling his udang kuning (yellow prawns) at RM20 per kg compared to RM14 normally. Sabah Fish Marketing Sdn Bhd (Safma) Purchasing Officer, James Abin, said apart from the bad weather, the ocean currents during the Nov-Feb period, which is the Northeast Monsoon season, do not favour fishing activities.
Kota Kinabalu Fishing Boats’ Owner Association Secretary, Simon H.T. Tsen, said his two trawlers go out to as far as off Tuaran, Kota Belud, Pulau Tiga, Kimanis, Papar and Sikuati (Kudat). Abin said it could be over-fishing, with much-sought after and previously abundant fish like tongkol, bawal hitam and tenggiri now scarcely seen.
