Across Sarawak, river fish face many threats associated with human activities, including fishery exploitation, environmental change and introduction of invasive species.
These threats have made river fish some of the most endangered animals in the state.
The introduction of the Tagang system benefits the aquatic life in the state’s rivers due to its emphasis on conservation and preservation.
A part of the river near a village is designated for the system, in which nobody is allowed to fish from or net to allow the fish to grow and reduce pollution.
The villagers watch over the fish in this area and are allowed to harvest once a year for the benefit of the whole village.
Fish that do not meet the requirements to be harvested are released into the water to ensure survival of the species.
The system empowers the local community by its close involvement in monitoring, policing and conservation efforts, as economic benefits are dependent on a well-conserved river environment.
As an ecotourism product, it has the potential to attract tourists through various activities such as homestay, kayaking, sport fishing and jungle trekking wherein the visitors can immerse themselves in the culture of the community.
This then ensures the livelihood of the community, who now have an alternative source of income.
Many villages across Sarawak have adopted the Tagang system as part of river conservation as well as economic security. Since the implementation of the system, the population of fish has increased.
As the local community becomes more receptive to environmental conservation efforts after seeing the success of the Tagang system, more efforts are also ongoing throughout the state for the benefit of the future generation.
