Bubuk season also brings in bountiful ‘ikan lumek’
MIRI: It is a wonderful start for the ‘bubuk’ (krill shrimps) season for local fishermen who are also bringing ashore large hauls of ‘ikan lumek’ – a species of softflesh saltwater fish that is full of fine bones – over the past week.
According to Herman Hamdan, the ‘bubuk’ season here normally begins in February and would last throughout March.
“However, it arrives quite late this year – possibly due to the rainy season. Still, the plentiful supply of ‘bubuk’ alongside ‘lumek’ that we can see now is really a boon for the villagers here,” the fisherman from Kampung Batu Satu in Lutong told The Borneo Post yesterday.
The fish is very popular among the locals and it can be prepared in many ways – fresh or smoked.
“The fish is like ‘pisang goreng’ (local equivalent of the expression ‘selling like hot cakes’) – it doesn’t take long for customers to grab everything off the stalls. We locals love it,” said Herman.
A visit to the stalls along Jalan Lutong- Kuala Baram here yesterday proved just that – customers came in droves to buy their favourite ‘bubuk’ and ‘ikan lumek’ fresh from the sea.
On the prices, the fish goes for between RM3 and RM5 per kilogramme – a ‘ killer bargain’, said Herman, in view of its
However, it arrives quite late this year – possibly due to the rainy season. Still, the plentiful supply of ‘bubuk’ alongside ‘lumek’ that we can see now is really a boon for the villagers here.
freshness.
“The local fishermen have been bringing in fresh catch every day over the past week, so the prices are very cheap. Not many realise that our job is not exactly a breeze – we push our boats out to sea at the crack of dawn, throw our nets and wait, haul in the heavy catch into the boats, gut and clean the fish, and bring them back to shore.
“Even that is not the end of it. We divide the catch – some to be sold fresh while the rest is to be smoked.
“It’s a challenging means of livelihood – one needs high level of skills and patience,” he said.
However, Herman was thankful to see that this season had been off to a great star.
“It’s a blessing for me and my fellow fishermen.”
Herman also disclosed that many of the customers bought the fresh fish not only for their own consumption, but also to process them into ‘ lumek salai’
Herman Hamdan, fisherman from Kampung Batu Satu
(smoked).
The current ‘ lumek’ galore is not only happening in the state’s northern region.
Fishermen across the central region – namely Sarikei, Sibu, Bintulu, Matu Daro and Tanjung Manis – as well as several coastal areas in Kuching Division are also enjoying tons of ‘lumek’ catch.