The smoked prawn cottage industry utilizes significant amount of mangrove as fuel wood. This poses a significant threat to the mangroves due to overharvesting, but there needs to be a trade-off between community livelihood and preservation of mangroves. Mangroves are listed as Protected species under the Wildlife Protection Ordinance in Sarawak. Thus, harvesting of mangroves should also be regulated. Practiced over generations, the communities need access to and maintain their rights to harvest mangroves for their livelihood. Hence, we need to explore technology support which can help to improve the smoke houses, reduce mangrove fuel wood dependency while still providing community income benefits that has been sustained over the generations.
The Rajang delta, fed by Rajang, Belawai and Paloh rivers, is a High Conservation Value (HCV) area for Irrawaddy dolphins. A sustainable development approach that also conserves mangrove habitats is necessary. Previous studies from the Sarawak Forestry Corporation in 2009 indicated that this delta could potentially contain the highest population of Irrawaddy dolphins in Sarawak. Other species of significance include silver leaf monkey, hornbills (Black hornbill, Bushy-crested and Oriental Pied), Chinese egret (migratory), lesser adjutant stork, estuarine crocodile, and other migratory birds, all dependent on good mangrove habitats.
The existing facilities to produce smoked prawns are old and inefficient, made up mostly of basic shacks. Bamboo or wire trays are placed over open fires on the floor. Heat and smoke are not optimized resulting in the use of a lot of fuel wood. A fuel-efficient, sustainable, and hygienic smoke house and stove is desired. The end products may even meet international standards quality and become more marketable.
The cottage industry for smoked fisheries should aspire to elevate into the sustainable production of exclusive and premier products. For this, more hygienic processes which meet food certification requirements are needed, especially for the export markets. This will increase the income of communities, without further degrading the mangrove habitats.
Objectives:
1. New hybrid smoked fish system.
2. Reduce usage of mangrove wood for fish smoking process.
3. Products that are more hygienic and comply with food standard that is able to explore new market.
The Fund financier for this project is Sarawak Digital Economic Corporation which uses Hybrid Power Food Dryer/Smoker technology amounting to RM128900.00
Prepared by,
Dr. Mohd Iskandar bin Jobli.