Sg Sebatu Tagang system first of its kind

There were three objectives when we set up our Tagang system – to conserve and preserve our environment, replenish freshwater fish species, and to make Sungai Sebatu Tagang system an eco-tourism product.

KANOWIT: The Sungai Sebatu ‘ Tagang’ (controlled fishing) system has been recognised by the Agriculture Department as the first eco-tourism product of its kind here.

Project chairman Andrew Mail Sangong said the project was a joint effort by 33 families from Rumah Reba Tinggom and Rumah Ai Langga in Sungai Ngemah here.

“There were three objectives when we set up our Tagang system – to conserve and preserve our environment, replenish freshwater fish species, and to make Sungai Sebatu Tagang system as an eco-tourism product,” he said in his welcoming speech during a one-night trip to Sungai Sebatu Tagang system here on Dec 19.

Kanowit district officer Kathreen Eddie Saga, Kanowit Agriculture Office head Stephnie Tida Gasan and Revd Fr Mathews Olili from Saint Francis Xavier Church, Kanowit were among

Andrew Mail Sangong, Project chairman

those who joined the trip.

According to Andrew, the project started in April 2015 with assistance from the Agriculture Department in the form of fish fry and fish feed.

In the first phase of the project, he said they released 10,000 ‘ tengadak’ fish fry in December 2015, followed by the release of ‘empurau’ fish fry in July the following year as part of the second phase.

“We hope the authority will consider building a road to Sungai Sebatu to shorten the journey from our longhouses to feed the fish regularly,” he said.

Andrew added the journey from Rumah Ai to the location – designated as a ‘red zone’ in Sungai Sebatu where they release the fish – takes about an hour of wading through the river.

The red zone is where fish fry are released and fishing is forbidden.

Meanwhile, Stephnie said that there were seven Tagang systems in Kanowit – Sungai Sebatu, Sungai Bugau/ Kajah, Sungai Laup/ Kajah, Sungai Pang and Rantau Lugai in Ngemah, and Sungai Segerenis and Sungai Rasan in Machan.

“The Sungai Sebatu Tagang system was chosen as an ecotourism product because of its location and the good cooperation among the participants,” she said, adding the participants had brought a group of Koreans to visit their Tagang system in July this year.

Fr Mathews (right) leads a prayer prior to their journey home after visiting the Tagang system.

(Front row, from third left) Andrew, Kathreen and Stephnie in a group photo with those who joined the trip to Sungai Sebatu.

A longhouse resident cuts an ‘engkabang’ tree which fell a day earlier.

Some of the trip participants take a breather before continuing their journey to the Sungai Sebatu Tagang system.