family
Syahifah Hawa Zamzuri, 33, is one of four female fishermen in Tanjung Tokong. She describes her job as an essential frontline job feeding the entire Penang state. “Our country is sick of development,” she told ecologist“When they say ‘Penang goes green’, that motto should include all of us.”
She explained the many concerns of local fishermen about the planned demolition of the Tanjung Tokong section. “We cannot understand the fact that we are marginalized,” she explained.
State Assembly representative Zairil Khir Johari said that of the 78 existing buildings, developers would “remove 12 to open up” [the] Public beach area. ”
Johari stressed that the demolition would allow for wider access to the beach for all, and it wasn’t just for school water sports facilities.He says ecologist Fishermen can apply for temporary residence permits, and the state government will also provide affordable housing for those affected if they are interested.
However, Syahifah explained that fishermen she knew applied three times in 2013, 2014 and 2020. The first two applications were rejected, as were appeals. They await a decision on the latest appeal. In addition, Syahifah remains concerned that the size of government housing units may be insufficient as some fishermen have large families in Tanjung Tokong.
Accident
Zakaria has been fishing on Penang Island for 46 years. Reflecting on the fishing lifestyle, he said: “Our income is irregular and depends on our catch of the day.”
Tanjung Tokong fishermen build their homes on state land. Zamzuri claims that fishermen move from time to time to get closer to the sea as ongoing development has turned the nearby area from beaches to mudflats.
federal government Withdrawal of State Approval Support for the Penang South Island project in September 2021 following an appeal by local fishermen. The government agreed that a second Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) was required.
when ecologist When asked how Zakaria felt about the temporary reprieve, he said: “It has given us fishermen and villagers in Sungai Batu a new fighting spirit to continue our fight for rights.”
However, in May 2022, the state government announced EIA Penang South Island (PSR) Project. EIA is out now listed Watch until Saturday, 18 June 2022. Environmental NGOs, including JEDI (Ecology and Climate Network)is actively raising concerns about the unforeseen consequences of land reclamation in Penang.
architecture
The EIA will be subject to technical review under the Department of Environment (DOE). While a project requiring an EIA will be subject to technical review by the DOE, it is ultimately up to the state to approve a particular project, even if it is approved by the EIA.
Zakaria remains very concerned about PSR projects that affect fishermen’s livelihoods. He referred to the southern coastline of Penang Island as the “last bastion” in the search for abundant shrimp populations.
“Sungai Batu Fishing Village is a thriving place because we are able to fish close to the coast without casting our nets too far.” Like other local fishermen in the area, Zakaria is usually a distance from The southern coastline does not exceed 2 km.
In fact, environmental nonprofits friends of nature estimate value of fishing US$10.2 million (RM42.09 million) in southern Penang island where Zakaria village is located.
Unfortunately, that could all change if the PSR project starts. Bjarke Ingels GroupAn international architectural firm that designed the Penang South Island project.These islands will be Jinwutiana Malaysian infrastructure company.
Turbidity
first, 6.3 million cubic meters The mud needs to be dredged to make room for the three islands.After dredging approx. 207 million cubic meters Sand will be mined to build islands.
The developer plans to acquire sand from the neighboring states of Perak and Selangor.in total about 4500 acres The land will be reclaimed as developers create the three islands. The number of proposed sand sources has actually increased from four to eight since the government asked for an environmental impact report.
The reclamation sequence of islands has changed since the first EIA (2019). This is due to changes in funding arrangements. In March 2021, the SRS Consortium, as a project delivery partner, Agree to fund land reclamation of island A
Evelyn Teh, Environmental Researcher The non-profit JEDI (Ecology and Climate Network)Tell ecologist: “If Island A is reclaimed first, the fishermen facing that coast will be directly affected first.
“But because of current water flow conditions, the impact of any sediment and turbidity from reclamation will also affect the entire coastal waters. Sediment plumes from reclamation will never be zero throughout construction, especially when projected It will take until 2031, which is quite a long time.”
One 2009 Research Article On the Indonesian island of Batam, dredging was found to have resulted in water damage, sediment disturbance, and degradation of coral reefs and mangroves.
biosphere
Dr Nurul Salmi, Senior Lecturer at Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), questions creativity New Forest Wetland as part of PSR development.
she told Ecologist: “By destroying an intact, ecologically prosperous and rich mangrove ecosystem, such as that of the PSR, [it] Cascading impacts and impacts will be left behind…the best mitigation is to not reclaim and destroy mangroves. “
Mangrove ecosystems are habitats for abundant shrimp populations. Dr. Salmi elaborated on “how the new forest areas of the PSR will function or create the same environment as the original. In other words, replanting will not bring back or preserve animal populations including shrimp.”
The developer also now plans to process dredged material just 33km from Muka Head, an area belonging to the UNESCO-designated Biosphere Reserve And there’s a lighthouse inside Penang National Park.
This Tanjung Betel Series (STP) It is a two-phase project that aims to reclaim 1,000 acres of land along the northern coastline of Penang Island. The second phase of land reclamation started in 2016.
haze
With land reclamation underway, Tanjung Daoguang fishermen have made longer trips away from their homes.Shahifa told ecologist: “The fishermen have no choice but to go further afield to cast their nets.
“As our boats go further, the cost of gasoline increases and it takes longer to fish. As fishermen, we have to cast our nets farther and farther to get a decent yield.”
She added: “Everything has completely changed. We have to Google what is mudflat and what is coral. We have to do a lot more trial and error when we cast our nets. If it’s mud, we have to move somewhere else net.”
Syahifah explained that the fishermen are physically tired and they fear it will get worse due to the haze pollution and severe storms. These, in turn, are affected by climate collapse.
One 2021 Research The haze in Malaysia’s Klang Valley has reportedly led to higher utilization of medical facilities and exacerbated the onset of respiratory diseases such as asthma.other research article An article published in 2017 discussed how land reclamation is disrupting Penang’s marine food chain.
marine life
It is uncertain to what extent the mid-coast seagrass beds in the northern part of Penang Island have been affected by land reclamation.
These seagrass beds are feeding and breeding grounds for marine life such as cockles, octopuses and sea cucumbers. Vulnerable animals on the IUCN Red List, such as dugongs and horseshoe crabs, were also found on the Midshore.
in a 2012 case studies, Sand dredging has reportedly resulted in the permanent loss of benthic habitat. The same study also found that water turbidity increased due to the presence of suspended solids promoted by dredging.
Penang is not the only state to approve such expansion projects.In fact, the Malacca and Johor state governments have approved or are in the process of land reclamation projects such as Maharani Portalstill subject to approval; Malacca Gateway, is currently on hold, and Forest City under construction.
The associated national crisis has exacerbated the difficulties for fishermen.Malaysia is facing exponential growth fish price As the challenges facing fishermen across the country are growing. The price of the staple mackerel has quadrupled – from RM3-4 per kilo to RM12-14.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, “all reclamation works have been temporarily halted. For the past two years, we have noticed stable and continuous marine life. Fishermen are able to get good catches on a regular basis,” Syahifah observed.
this author
Kymberley Chu is a writer focused on the history of deprivation of the environment. Previously, she interned at the Pulitzer Center for Crisis Reporting and worked as a freelance journalist in Malaysia. This year, she will begin her PhD in anthropology. at Princeton University.
This article has been published through the Ecologist Writers Foundation. We are asking readers to donate to pay some authors £200 for their work.Please Donate now. You can learn more about the fund and make an application, on our website. This article was also supported by the Pulitzer Center for Crisis Reporting.
