Paitan fishermen go for Kinabatangan sustainable fishing traps

It does wonders : Paitan fishermen checking out the new, environmentalfriendly fish traps at a debut programme in the Kinabatangan region (pic credit: The Star)

Fishermen in Paitan have now adopted the sustainable bubu (fishing traps) method which originated from the village of Sukau in Kinabatangan, Sabah itself.

HUTAN – Kinabatangan Orang-utan Conservation Programme (HUTAN-KOCP) has launched the method since 2004. HUTAN – KOCP, Programme Manager, Datu Ahbam Abulani said these traps are using plastic wire mesh that last longer instead of using the bark of certain species of trees to make the traditional bubu which needs replacing about every six months. He said the wire mesh material only cost less than RM200 and training for making the sustainable bubu will be provided by fishermen from Sukau. Sustainable bubu takes a morning to be done whilst a traditional bubu can take up to a week to make and is labour intensive. Datu Ahbam was pleased to see this method growing in popularity outside the Kinabatangan and said that they have worked with fishermen in Sukau for more than a year to come up with a sustainable replacement and cost effective alternative. He also added that they are actively trying to create awareness to the villagers on environmental education.