SHAH ALAM - The government needs to take a more comprehensive step to ensure that the decrease in cockle population in the country’s waters is resolved.
Consumers’ Association of Penang (CAP) president Mohideen Abdul Kader said in addition to improving the breeding process, authorities should increase operations to prevent theft or smuggling of the marine life.
He said CAP had urged authorities to look into the matter seriously two years ago and hoped that further action could be taken.
"The issue (on stolen cockles) must be given special attention to for the sake of local fishermen’s livelihood so that it would not be affected and to ensure consumers are not affected by its high price in the market.
"CAP monitors the control and legal enforcements strictly and effectively through departments and agencies involved,” he said in a statement.
Mohideen urged the Fisheries Department and the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) to increase patrols at the waters which were the breeding grounds for cockles to prevent theft or smuggling incidents.
He said such action was important to ensure the supply of cockles in the market was sold at a reasonable price.
Meanwhile in Sekinchan, the prices for several grades of cockles in the market have skyrocketed within the past three years.
Sekinchan Fishermen’s Association committee member Ibrahim Mat, 44, said the price of grade A cockles have risen to RM16 per kilogramme (kg).
He said grades B and C each risen to RM14 and RM12 per kg.
"These are the prices in the Sekinchan market. I think the price in the cities would be significantly higher,” he told Sinar Ahad.
Ibrahim said the increase in prices was caused by the difficulties of procuring the species due to the action of certain parties.
He said the act of stealing cockle seeds was done by syndicates using boats to smuggle them to Thailand.
"We found that the seeds were stolen to be sold in Thailand.
"I understood that the prices sold were counted based on palm oil cans reaching up to RM1,500,” he said.
He explained that the use of rotor boats caused the destruction of the species and the habitat for other shellfish.
"The cockle supply for the local markets have decreased and is looking grim when irresponsible parties are reaping the profits of the cockle farms.
"We urge the Selangor Agriculture Department to immediately deal with the issue of shellfish farms so that certain parties do not continue to monopolise it using rotor boats to make quick profit,” he said.