STORY 2: YOUNGSTERS BEGIN TO SHUN THE BAGANGS IN EAST MALAYSIA

By Newmond Tibin

SABAH (Malaysia) : As dusk sets in the scenic fishing village of Indrasabah in Tawau, Sukri Mohd Noor and five other young fishermen carrying fishing gear and a few kerosene lamps hop onto a moored boat at a makeshift jetty before heading off to a nearby off-shore Bagang (a fishing platform).

After slogging for hours on a chilly night to catch fish using the lift net method, the youngsters sail back to shore with their catches, mostly anchovies in the wee hours, and later sell them to the nearest wet market or make them dried anchovies. For ages, they depended heavily on this traditional fishing activity for a livelihood.

From a mere 10 Bagangs in the early 1970s, the number has skyrocketed over the years. Now there are more than 500 Bagangs along the Indrasabah coast, making it the biggest anchovy producer in Sabah, where almost all of its more than 2,000 residents are involved in traditional fishing, particularly Bagang fishing.

However, in what is seen as a change of tide engulfing the traditional culture of fishing, youngsters are beginning to shun the Bagangs in favour of working elsewhere in the mainland or towns, leaving the seasonesd fishermen or old guards to carry on the deep-rooted practice.

"The number of young people interested in Bagang fishing has dwindled of late. The youngsters, especially those who are unemployed would rather go out to look for a job like in shopping centres than go to the sea.

"In fact, the income is quite good, ranging from RM300 to RM1,000 (US$1 = RM3.7) depending on the fish haul or season. But still, it does't seem to appeal to the majority of the unemployed young generation," said the soft-spoken Sukri.

The 21-old lad said he decided to stay put in the village to follow in the footsteps of his father to be a fulltime fisherman, despite the negative perception of some people towards this traditional profession.

"I have no regrets looking after our Bagang. I am happy I have a job...I can even adjust my time and go out to town during my free time," he said of his experience as a traditional fishermen for a decade.

Indeed, Sukri's position represents the uncertainty future of a handful of young people in the village left stuck with the lure of the Bagang. Most of the die-hard fishermen in the village would not predict Bagang fishing's fate in the future, saying it's a question for the younger generation to ponder.