COMPENSATE US, SAY FISHERMEN

Oil slick has damaged our fishing equipment, they claim

WITH their livelihood threatened by the recent oil slick, some 50 fishermen in Tanjung Balau and Tanjung Lompat have turned to the government for assistance.

“This is the worst oil slick we

ever faced,” said Koperasi Sinar Tanjung Balau chairman Salahuden Abu Bakar.

The oil was also seen on nearby beaches, posing a threat to the marine ecosystem and tourism.

He said rehabilitation efforts would take at least six months after the 10km slick was cleared.

This, he said, was on top of the losses they suffered due to damaged fishing equipment, including bubu (fish traps) and nets.

“Most of our new bubu are made of rotan, wood and steel wires. They are used here as they blend well with the natural landscape and made catching fish more effective.

“However, the new bubu, which costs RM200 each, are now covered in black oil. Even if we manage to clean them up, there is no guarantee that they will be usable again as the strong scent of grease will drive fish away,” he said at Tanjung Balau here.

He said the fishermen had suffered losses amounting to RM8,000 when 40 of their fish traps were damaged.

“Each fisherman earns between RM400 and RM500 weekly. However, they cannot use

bubu due to the oil slick,” he said. Salahuden hoped that the government could help the fishermen obtain compensation from the parties responsible.

The Marine Department had, on Thursday, found 300 tonnes of marine fuel oil covering a distance of 10km in Tanjung Balau and Batu Layar waters, with some of the black substance reaching the beach.

It had informed the Johor Environment Department to conduct a check on the oil samples.

PIX BY ZAIN AHMED An aerial picture taken by a drone showing the Marine Department ship ‘Al Nilam’ cleaning up the oil slick in the waters off Tanjung Balau in Kota Tinggi yesterday.

(Left) The oil slick found on a beach in Tanjung Balau, Kota Tinggi, yesterday. (Right) The crew of ‘Al Nilam’, a boat belonging to the Marine Department, deploying a net to clean up an oil slick yesterday.