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<\/a>\u201cBut because the discharge is contaminated with chemicals, the shrimps are now gone,\u201d said Stopa, a shrimp fisherman who is lamenting his loss of income due to the pollution.<\/p>\nMohd Bukhari Yusof, 45, said he stopped fishing for shrimps three years ago after his catch started to dwindle, and decided to spend more time catching fish at sea.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe river is dead. I see no hope of the shrimp making a comeback unless the government puts a stop to the dumping of contaminated seawater into Sungai Chalok,\u201d said Bukhari, who, since a teenager, spent most of his time catching and selling shrimp.<\/p>\n
Saiful Bahri Salleh, 37, said the shrimp farm should build a processing plant to remove all the chemicals from the sea water before discharging it in the river.<\/p>\n
\u201cUsually, in August and September, the river water turns green. It is a sign of dead micro-organisms which are food for the shrimps. I hope something is done protect the river from further degradation,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
When alerted to the problem, Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Ahmad Razif Abdul Rahman said the relevant agencies are now monitoring the situation following numerous complaints from riverine fishermen in Penarik.<\/p>\n
\u201cI am waiting for a full report from the Department of Environment (DoE). At the same time, I want the villagers to lodge reports directly to the DoE and other agencies such as the Fisheries Department, for them to conduct investigations,\u201d he added. – NST<\/p>\n