GEORGE TOWN: Coastal reclamation off Gurney Drive and the Queensbay area opposite Pulau Jerejak is threatening the livelihood of hundreds of fishermen.
Many have lamented the loss of income, while others are thinking of calling it quits after decades of going to sea.
A visit by the New Straits Times to the site near Queensbay found that reclamation was in full swing with large dredging vessels parked in the sea.
At one spot, sand filled the once crystal-clear water.
Fisherman Mohd Rafie Md Said, 31, said they had been having a hard time putting food on the table since reclamation began two months ago.
“We used to get RM500 worth of catch daily. Now, we are thankful if we can get RM100.
“Life has been difficult. We are plagued with debts. What is going to become of us?”
Shahrul Nizal Md Daud, 30, said there were times when he came home empty-handed.
“I have a family to feed. I also need to pay for the house and car.
“We were given only RM5,000 as compensation. How long can that last us?”
Both fishermen said they had no clue as to the purpose of the reclamation, adding that more than 100 fishermen had been given until the end of the month to move out.
Shahrul said although they were given an alternative site at Seagate, not everyone was given an individual hut to operate from.
“We have protested against the coastal reclamation, but no one seems to hear us.”
He said the sea had turned murky and oily, making it no longer suitable for marine life.
Ismail Saahat, 38, took the developer to task, saying every negotiation was done through a middle man and not directly.
He claimed that the middle man “picked and chose” who would receive compensation.
“How can this be? It is true that some have no licence and are not members of our association, but they have been here much longer than any of us.
“How are they going to feed their family? What is the state government doing to help us? Will we be left to fend for ourselves? What will become of us when the proposed reclamation at the southern zone begin?
A fisherman in Gurney Drive, who wanted to be known only as Tan, said they used to go only 4km out to sea and there would be plenty of fish.
Now, he said, the reclamation projects had forced them to go out between 10km and 15km to sea.
“How can we do that when we have only small boats. What if there are big waves? We will be left for dead.
“We also risk getting caught by the authorities for encroachment.”
Tan said although they were paid between RM10,000 and RM15,000 as compensation, it was not enough as it would not even last them one year.
“We are not complaining for the sake of complaining. We just want adequate compensation.”
He said the developer should pay the fishermen a monthly compensation until the completion of its project.
Tan said his catch dropped from RM2,000 a day to less than RM1,000 since the reclamation started.
“With the situation we are in, there is no need to chase us away. We will be forced to leave eventually.”