Development of new mussel farming areas can generate additional income for fishermen

JOHOR BAHRU: Several areas in the state have been identified as having potentials for largescale mussel farming which could help more fishermen and small entrepreneurs to increase their source of income.

Southern Johor Fishermen’s Association chairman, Azli Mohd Aziz hoped assistance would be provided to their members in the area to further develop it.

Azli, 53, said the demand for mussels had increased, including from abroad, especially with an increasing number of ‘shell out’ restaurants in the country.

“We hope the Fisheries Department will provide assistance to areas around Pontian, Batu Pahat, Muar, Ledang and up to Jasin in ensuring that mussel breeding in the area will be further developed to meet market demand.

“Although the area is currently being developed on a small scale, we see it as having the potential to go beyond,” he told Bernama in an interview, recently.

Azli also hoped that the coastal area around Pasir Gudang will not be developed as an industrial area as it is the biggest mussel breeding area in Malaysia.

“Mussel farming around the area is owned by 53 private breeders and five government agencies. It is developed within an area of one square kilometre traditionally or using a smart farm technology,” said Azli.

“The smart farm technology has succeeded in increasing mussel production and speeding up the mussels’ maturity,” he added.

The smart farm technology has a lifespan of more than 15 years and does not need to change the trap strap during the period.

Azli noted that with the new technology it enabled mussels to mature within six months and fishermen were able to harvest the production of between six and eight tonnes.

The mussel farming area, which has been developed for 25 years, has benefited many people including 2,389 of the low-income fishermen.

From traditional methods to smart farming as well as modern machines for boiling mussels in 2011, on average, the community in Pasir Gudang can enjoy the long-standing production of mussels.

Among them is a housewife, Nurul Syuhada Abdullah, who has long been a mussel peeler, in helping to increase her household income.

Nurul Syuhada said she and her colleagues, most of whom are housewives, did not take long to master the mussel peeling work.

“I’ve been working as a mussel peeler for two years and it took less than a month to master it. For me, the work is very flexible and helps the residents around Pasir Gudang, especially housewives to increase their earnings,” said the 32-yearold from Kota Tinggi.

She explained that the mussel peeling work started at 6.30 am until it finished and been paid a wage of RM2 per kilo.

“Every day, about 10 people will do the peeling work where each person can process between 12 kg to 14 kg of mussel,” she said.

Nurul Syuhada said previously, the mussels were boiled in a drum and only seven kilograms of raw mussels could be boiled which took 25 minutes.

“By using modern machines, mussel flesh can be processed between 120kg and 150kg per day and the cleanliness is guaranteed,” she added.

Hence, it is hoped that the mussel farming industry will continue to grow as well as to have a positive impact on the industry. — Bernama