Page 281 - The Guide To Sarawak

THE GUIDE TO SARAWAK 279
Bunut’s main attractions are birdwatching and sport fishing, and it is possible to stay with local Berawan families (an Orang Ulu sub-group, see page 75) and discover their traditional way of life. The two new hydro lakes, Bakun and Murrum, have also been selected for ecotourism development and as watersports venues.
The Sea
Sarawak has always been heavily influenced by
the sea, which has been the route of migration from the Asian mainland for over 5,000 years, an important source of food for over 40,000 years (the earliest inhabitants arrived by a now-submerged land bridge), and a source of great wealth since Chinese merchants began visiting in the 5th Century CE.
Commercial Fisheries
Marine fisheries are an important contributor to Sarawak’s economy and
Colourful Melanau fishing boats anchored on the Mukah River at Kampung Datu, Mukah. These sturdy craft are built entirely by hand at nearby Kampung Tellian.
provide major components of the local diet. Sarawak has a vast continental shelf of over 125,000
sq km of which almost 100,000 sq km is suitable for trawling. The estimated annual catch is 200,000 tonnes, of which 87% is fish and 25% shrimps, prawns, cuttlefish and squid.
Artisan Fisheries
Inshore fishermen from traditional fishing villages are the main suppliers of fresh coastal fish. They
mostly use hand lines
and small nets and have exclusive access to inshore fisheries less than 6 miles (10km) offshore. This helps to ensure sustainability, and fish stocks are
further protected by the establishment of major Marine National Parks.
In the north, beachcombers use hand nets to catch tiny shrimps used to produce belacan, while on the Santubong Peninsula local families venture out onto the mudflats at low tide
to gather ambal (bamboo clams), a popular local delicacy.
The Offshore Industry
Sarawak’s continental
shelf contains the largest oil and natural gas fields
in Malaysia, which have spawned a huge offshore exploration and extraction industry, as well as major support facilities such
as ports, shipyards and refineries onshore.
A fisherman sets his traps in the coastal peat swamps of the Rejang Delta, where succulent mud crabs and plump catfish are abundant.