Some 60 fishermen at Tanjung Kuala Sabak here are ready to face the upcoming monsoon season which is expected to begin next month. -NSTP/SHARIFAH MAHSINAH ABDULLAH
Some 60 fishermen at Tanjung Kuala Sabak here are ready to face the upcoming monsoon season which is expected to begin next month. -NSTP/SHARIFAH MAHSINAH ABDULLAH

KOTA BARU: Some 60 fishermen at Tanjung Kuala Sabak here are ready to face the upcoming monsoon season which is expected to begin next month.

The majority of them, when interviewed, said some have already begun skipping their fishing activities since early this week following the uncertain weather.

Fisherman Zakri Ibrahim, 34, said he and his brothers had only gone out to sea twice this week.

"The sea has been choppy since early this week. This is a sign that the monsoon season is coming.

"Seeing this, the majority of fishermen here have refrained from taking any risks. The only option we have is to wait for the situation to be really safe," he said.

While waiting, Zakri said he and his brothers would do odd jobs to support their families.

A spokesman of the Tanjung Kuala Sabak fishermen community committee said about 10 of the 60 fishermen had decided not to out to sea since Sunday.

"The rainy season has yet to hit Kelantan but a few days ago, heavy rain occurred in certain parts of the state.

"Seeing this, some of the coastal fishermen who use fiberglass boats decided not to go out to sea as they were afraid the rough seas might damage their boats.

"They might continue when the weather improves," said the spokesman.

Meanwhile, a check at the Kuala Sabak fishermen's jetty showed that nearly 30 boats were docked at the jetty today.

The jetty is an important fishing port built 50 years ago and is among the oldest fishing villages in Kelantan.

The annual monsoon season, marked by rough seas and strong winds, would normally keep fishermen idle and force them to look for odd-jobs such as building houses to support their families.

Majority would become labourers while the rest would try to make ends meet by repairing fishing nets of other fishermen or build fish traps.