Fishing Heritage of mukim tanjung kupang
The fishermen of Mukim Tanjung Kupang have been around for at least 200 years and fishing was always their main source of food and income. With that comes myriad practices, rituals, taboos and tales that make up our rich fishing heritage.
Fishing heritage field trip
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Fishing heritage field trip
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Fishing heritage field trip
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NET-MAKING TECHNIQUES
Making fishermen's nets is a craft that is passed down through the generations. To ensure that this crucial heritage is not lost, Shalan has been working with the younger fishermen to ensure that everyone knows how to make the myriad types of nets and other gear that is needed when they head out to sea. Every net has different eye sizes, lengths and numbers of knots - depending on its target species. The most skilled fishermen can handle all the tools available but not everyone can do this.
FOLKLORE
There are many taboos that the fishermen abide by when at sea. Many of these are handed down through the generations and originate from a simpler past. Pulau Merambong, an island close to us is known to be home to many spirits and locals believe that the island lies on a giant sting ray and that the island can sometimes move. Fishermen know never to mention what they might see on the island and to ask permission before taking anything from it, as well as to avoid using it as a toilet stop. There are also many stories of strange creatures that the fishermen have seen at sea.
CUISINE
While most of the day's catch goes to lucky buyers, these usually comprise the bigger, higher quality fish. The fishermen take home smaller, less saleable or less expensive fish for their families to eat. These are usually juvenile fish, squid, flounder, seagrass filefish or rejected prawns and smaller sized crabs. They also eat slightly exotic species such as snails (noble volute and melo melo or kilah) and mushroom anemones which can be found at the seagrass meadows.
CULTURE
Fishing has been in the blood of the community of Mukim Tanjung Kupang for 200 years. Most of the people here have Bugis ancestry, an Indonesian ethnic group known for their seafaring ways and uncanny skills at sea. Before development hit this area, many of the locals lived along the coast with houses perched over the water and boats parked underneath. Even today, with many moved inland, some residents say they become ill if they do not go to sea every day.
