Stormy Weather Results To Low Fish Supply
By Asri Razak

Bandar Seri Begawan - The Northeast monsoon currently affecting the Southeast Asian region not only brings plenty of rain and storm, but also affects Brunei Darussalam's fishermen and fishmongers in Jerudong Beach.

They are facing low volume of fish being caught in the midst of the December rainy season affecting Southeast Asian region.

Usually a vibrant market place, the Jerudong Beach wet market yesterday saw little activity as it was besieged by frequent showers and strong winds. Fishing boats returned to the shores earlier than usual as strong waves disrupted the fishermen' normal fishing routines.

A survey by The Brunei Times to the market place revealed some hawkers packing up as early as three in the afternoon as a storm was beginning to brew. One of the remaining fishmongers, 46-year-old Wahab Omar said yesterday at Jerudong beach this month's wet and windy climate led to reduced business at the market.

The heavy winds and strong currents brought by the monsoon kept the fish stocks away from the usual fishing areas, said Wahab, and this is affecting the amount of fish caught.

Normally, fish peddlers can charge up to $4 per kg of fish when supplies are plentiful, but with the current climate and the lack of fish supplies, prices can go as high as $6 per kg, Wahab said.

He added that during better weather, fish volumes received by the area's peddlers can come up to 500 kg per day, but during this low season, local fishermen can only manage to supply 300 kg of fish to be sold at the wet markets. Another fishmonger at the Jerudong market, Jefri said, that supplies from Sabah and Sarawak are still coming in. However, the volume of such imports is not up to the usual standards due to the current bad weather season the region experiences.

He said Jerudong beach area can not produce enough fish supply for wet markets in the country, and it is important foreign supplies still come in.

"If we depend on just local supplies, there's not enough fish to eat," said Jefri, pointing out that fish supplies that come in through Jerudong are not sufficient to meet local demands. -- Courtesy of The Brunei Times

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