Known for their traditional riverine fishery resources management, each of the families at Kampung Kitapol here will soon manage a fish pond in their backyard.
A project supported by the State Fisheries Department, it is hoped that the fish pond would not only provide the villagers a sustained supply of fish but also be a potential source of income.
Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk Seri Dr Maximus Ongkili launched the project yesterday by handing RM20,000 worth of polypipes to the village.
A strong advocate of the traditional community-based riverine fishery resources management system locally known as tagal, Ongkili was confident that the villagers would ensure the success of the project.
“Kampung Kitapol is known for the success of the tagal system and I am sure the fish pond project will also be a success,” he said.
Under the project, the Fisheries Department would provide the villagers with various types of freshwater fish fry and guide them on the proper way of managing a fish pond.
On the tagal system, Ongkili said the government would continue to provide funds to promote the project, not just in Sabah but also in Sarawak and the peninsula.
The tagal system is a stakeholder-driven system of rehabilitation, protection and conservation of the river environment and the fishery resources for sustainable development. It refers to the traditional practice where a river is closed for fishing to allow the fish to mature. It is opened only once a year. There are about 430 tagal areas in Sabah, involving 107 rivers in 11 districts.
The tagal system is spearheaded by an elected tagal committee. The enforcement of the prohibition to fish when a river is closed to fishing was carried out through the imposition of native customary laws that are backed by the Native Court.
The success of the tagal system underlines the smart partnership forged between riparian communities and the Fisheries Department.
Ongkili said his ministry, through its biotechnology division, had been undertaking the breeding of rare native fish such as pelian in Sabah and empurau in Sarawak in tagal areas.
Village head Disim Thomas said the fish pond project would benefit more than 40 families.
