Sabah to promote 'Tagal' system to attract tourists

 By Olivia Miwil - March 27, 2021 @ 5:16pm

Sabah Agriculture and Fisheries minister Datuk Seri Dr Jeffrey Kitingan releases fish into the Moyog River at Kampung Rugading. -NSTP/OLIVIA MIWIL.

PENAMPANG: Sabah is looking into promoting "Tagal" or traditional river rehabilitation system as a tourism product, said Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Dr Jeffrey Kitingan.

The tagal system aims to prevent resources, particularly freshwater fish, from being depleted by ensuring part of a river to be free from fishing for a certain period.

"The project will see involvement of local communities in introducing the product, talking about river conservation and showcasing traditional bamboo houses.

"When we look after the environment, the environment and the fish will 'look' after us later," he told the reporters after releasing 1,000 fish fry into the Moyog river at Kampung Rugading here.

Jeffrey, who is also state Agriculture and Fisheries Minister, also approved RM25,000 to build a hut at the village to encourage locals to take part in river conservation programmes.

He said annual freshwater fish products from Sabah rivers was a mere 176 metric tonnes which were far less from the total catch the state derived from the sea.

Through relevant agencies, Jeffrey said, the government would increase food production by giving freshwater fish seeds and look at amending enactment related to freshwater fisheries.

Meanwhile, on boosting Sabah's income, Jeffrey said the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah-led government is confident of doubling the state revenues within five years of being in power.

He added that Sabah now has a revenue of about RM4 billion and this is expected to increase to between RM8 billion and RM10 billion.