PASIR SALAK - Even cobras and king cobras cannot keep Amirul Hafiz Zulkifly away from the swamps and padi fields around Kampung Tersusun Teluk Memali in Kampung Gajah here.
Despite several encounters with these venomous snakes, the young man remains undeterred, returning time and again to hunt for eels, scientifically known as Monopterus javanensis.
In fact, Amirul Hafiz, 25, has been wading through the mud in the swampy area for over 10 years and has become accustomed to these reptiles entering the eel traps he has placed there, not to mention those slithering through the undergrowth.
"At first, I was scared because snakes often got into the traps, but over time, I got used to it. I just have to be more careful, whether wading through the mud or lifting the traps, because one wrong move can prove fatal,” he said when met by Bernama recently.
Amirul Hafiz said eel-catching serves as a lucrative source of income for him, especially from August to February when the eel population increases significantly.
"I make my own traps using one-metre-long PVC pipes. Currently, I have 50 units, which I set up every day at around 7 pm. I return to check the traps at 8 am the next morning to see the catch,” he said.
Amirul Hafiz said he can earn between RM50 and RM200 per day, depending on the catch.
"One reason I enjoy this activity is because of the high demand for eels and the relatively good market price, which is around RM18 to RM20 per kilogramme.
"Besides that, eel meat is favoured by many people because it is softer and tastier than chicken. Some also eat it because they believe it can help treat asthma,” he said.
Seeing the potential for eels to generate a good income, the young man aspires to start eel farming one day.
"My ambition is to have my own eel farm but for now, I am still in the process of learning about eel farming techniques,” he said, acknowledging that his dream is not easy to achieve as it would require a large capital investment.
"From what I have learned, eels take about eight months to mature, so it is not a short process. However, I am confident that if I manage it (farm operations) well, I can produce high-quality eels to meet the demand,” he added. - BERNAMA