Believe it or Not - Fish at Bakun Lake (Murum River)

Since the impounment process started in Oct 2010 huge amount of fish rushed and gathered at river mouth within the Bakun Hydro catchment area. This video was taken at Murum River.

Pembalak Perlahankan Aktiviti Membalak Di Empangan Bakun

kayu balak milik pembalak tempatan

Kerja-kerja membalak di Empangan Bakun semakin berkurangan atau hampir terhenti hasil daripada pemantauan ketat yang dilakukan oleh Sarawak Forest Cooperation atau lebih dikenali sebagai 'Forest' di kalangan orang tempatan sekitar Empangan Bakun. Ini adalah hasil daripada aduan oleh tiga orang ketua kaum daripada Belaga sepertimana yang didedahkan oleh Menteri Perancangan dan Pembangunan Sumber II Datuk Amar Awang Tengah.
         Di dapati banyak rumah terapung yang dijadikan khemah membalak dibiarkan kosong dan ada sesetengahnya dirobohkan.Juga tidak kelihatan rakit-rakit kayu balak sepertimana biasanya. Tindakkan pengawasan ketat oleh pihak berkuasa adalah faktor pembalak-pembalak yang mana kebanyakannya penduduk asal berasa bimbang untuk meneruskan aktiviti membalak seperti biasa.
         Seorang pembalak yang tidak mahu identitinya dikenali mengatakan bahawa beliau terpaksa menghentikan operasi membalaknya buat sementara waktu akibat daripada keadaan tidak menentu ini. Kini beliau cuma mempunyai seorang pekerja, bekerja untuk menjaga rumah rakitnya kerana khuatir akan peralatan membalaknya dicuri. Beliau mengatakan bahawa ada pekerja-pekerjanya yang kebetulan pergi cuti beraya pada bulan yang lepas ingin kembali bekerja, tetapi beliau menolak hasrat mereka kerana tidak mahu mengambil risiko.
         Beliau mengatakan keadaan kini amat sukar kerana harga yang ditawarkan oleh WARGANA iaitu syarikat yang diberi    lesen membalak dikawasan Takungan Bakun menawarkan harga yang terlalu rendah iaitu cuma 1/3 daripada harga yang ditawarkan oleh Taukey beliau sebelum ini. Contohnya Taukey beliau sebelum ini sanggup membeli dengan harga sehingga RM170 se-tan bergantung kepada saiz dan kualiti kayu, tetapi Wargana cuma menawarkan harga RM50.00 se-tan.
         Dengan kenaikan air yang semakin cepat akibat hujan lebat beberapa hari ini kawasan membalak di sekitar empangan Bakun semakin berkurangan. Jika sesuatu tidak dilakukan dengan segara untuk mengatasi masalah ini, maka adalah menjadi kerugian kepada semua sekiranya kayu-kayu tersebut tenggelam begitu sahaja.

Rujuk lampiran daripada Akhbar Borneo Post pada keluaran 24 Ogos 2011 yang lepas seperti dibawah ini:

SFC lancar operasi besar-besaran banteras balak haram di Bakun

Posted on August 24, 2011, Wednesday

KUCHING: Sarawak Forestry Corporation (SFC) akan melancarkan semula operasi besar-besaran membanteras kegiatan pembalakan haram di kawasan Empangan Hidroelektrik Bakun (Empangan Bakun), kata Menteri Perancangan dan Pengurusan Sumber II, Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan.

Bercakap pada sidang media di pejabatnya di Wisma Sumber Alam dekat sini semalam beliau berkata operasi yang dihentikan pada Jun tahun ini kembali dilakukan ekoran laporan berlaku kegiatan pembalakan haram di sekitar empangan itu.

“SFC akan melancarkan semula operasi besar-besar membanteras aktiviti pembalakan haram di sekitar Bakun dengan serta-merta selepas ia diberhentikan beberapa bulan lalu.

“Kita menyangkakan kegiatan ini tak akan berlaku lagi, nampaknya tanggapan kita ini tidak benar. Jadi kita perlu melancarkan semula operasi ini bagi memastikan tiadanya pembalakan haram atau setidak-tidaknya mengurangkan kegiatan ini,” katanya.

Awang Tengah yang juga Menteri Kemudahan Awam berkata SFC telah memulakan operasi membanteras kegiatan itu pada April 2011 bagaimanapun ditamatkan pada Jun 2011 kerana kekangan kewangan.

Menurutnya menerusi operasi yang berlangsung selama dua bulan itu, SFC telah merampas 500 batang balak dan menyita sebuah kilang papan haram.

Beliau menambah SFC telah mengeluarkan lesen bagi mengumpul serpihan kayu dan balak dalam lingkungan lima kilometer di Empangan Bakun kepada Wargana Consortium Sdn Bhd berkuat kuasa 15 Julai 2011 hingga 14 Januari 2012.

“Terima kasih kepada semua ketua masyarakat yang prihatin dan telah membangkitkan isu ini. Dalam hal ini kerjasama orang ramai amat diperlukan dalam memberi maklumat yang tepat kepada kita supaya tindakan segera dan sewajarnya boleh diambil,” katanya.

Sementara itu Ketua Pegawai Eksekutif SFC, Datu Len Talif Salleh yang dihubungi semalam berkata pihaknya akan memastikan kesahihan laporan berkaitan isu pembalak haram dan samseng di tasik Bakun yang dibuat oleh tiga ketua masyarakat Orang Ulu di Belaga.

Menurut beliau, SFC yang kini dalam proses berkenaan akan berusaha mendapatkan penjelasan sebenar daripada ketua komuniti itu.

Bagaimanapun katanya segala tindakan yang akan diambil diserahkan kepada kementerian yang bertanggungjawab.

“SFC sememangnya melakukan pemantauan dan penguatkuasaan berterusan sejak dahulu lagi, tetapi kita kena faham aktiviti pembalakkan bukannya dapat dihapuskan serta merta,” katanya ketika dihubungi Utusan Borneo di sini, semalam.

Malahan beliau memberitahu pemantauan itu bukan sahaja di lakukan di kawasan Bakun tetapi di semua kawasan di negeri ini.

Selasa lepas The Borneo Post melaporkan pembalak haram dan gangster telah melakukan penebangan balak secara haram di kawasan empangan Bakun semenjak 10 bulan lepas sehingga mengganggu kerja-kerja mengumpul serpihan kayu serta balak terapung di situ.

Kehadiran ‘orang luar’ itu juga dikatakan telah menyebabkan penduduk setempat takut menangkap ikan, memburu hidupan liar serta memungut hasil hutan lain seperti lazimnya dilakukan selama ini.

Kereta Tenggelam Di Tasik Bakun

Pemilik kenderaan sedang berusaha untuk mengikat tali pada kenderaan beliau dan diperhatikan oleh beberapa orang awam yang sedang menyaksikan keadaan tersebut.

10 September 2011.Empangan Bakun
Sebuah kereta pacuan empat roda milik Awie Jeno seorang penduduk daripada Sg.Asap telah tenggelam apabila keretanya telah mengelongsor ke dalam Tasik Bakun pada jam 2 petang pada, 10 September 2011. Kejadian belaku dipercayai apabila brake pakir yang gagal berfungsi dan penahan gelongsor (sebiji batu) yang diletakkan di tayar keretanya telalu kecil. Sejurus selepas itu beliau telah mendapatkan tali pengikat Rumah Terapung yang berdekatan dengan tempat kejadian dan berusaha mengikat kereta beliau. Kereta beliau dapat diselamatkan sejam selepas kejadian dengan ditunda naik ke darat oleh sebuah kereta pacuan empat roda yang berdekatan.
         Beliau sebelum itu sedang memunggah barang-barang milik Upang Liek dan isterinya yang hendak balik ke kampung mereka yang terletak di dalam kawasan empangan. Mujurlah tak ada penumpang yang masih berada di dalam kereta.
     
Tip:  Hati-hatilah di tasik Bakun.......he...he...kalu letak kerete pertama tarik hand brake kuat-kuat. Kedua matikan enjin. Ketiga masukan gear 1 kalau kereta menghadap ke atas dan masukkan gear reverse kalau kereta menghadap ke bawah. Kalau kereta anda ada Low Gear lebih elok di masukkan juga. Lepas itu barulah boleh keluar dari kereta dan carilah baut-batu yang besar yang paling dapat kamu angkat untuk dijadikan stopper. Lebih selamat kalau dapat letakkan pada keempat-empat tayar...tetapi biasanya dua tayar dah memadai. 

What is the latest water level at Bakun Dam Today?

water level at Bakun Dam

ILLEGAL LOGGING AT BAKUN DAM

BINTULU: Illegal loggers and gangsters have been harvesting logs illegally and with impunity at Bakun lake for the past 10 months, disturbing and hampering the daily collection of debrisin it.

The presence of these outsiders has created fear among locals looking for fish, wild animals and other jungle produce to make a living.

Representatives of the Orang Ulu in Belage led by Pemanca Umek Jeno, Pemanca Tony Kulleh and Pemanca Ajang Sirek expressed concern over the possibility of untoward incidents occurring among the local people or between rival business groups involved in this illegalactivity.

They urged the government to act immediately – through its enforcement and security agencies – against rampant illegal logging activities being carried out by these outsiders around the Bakun lake area.

“They have brought in heavy machinery, tugboats, speedboats and longboats to the area and some even engaged well-armed ‘gangsters’ for protection and to threaten others,” they said. Another complaint from local residents is logs from the illegal logging often cause log jams at the jetty near the dam site, said the leaders.

“We hope the authorities concerned will act fast and put a stop to this as it is not good for the district and can jeopardise the safety of residents involved in site clearing for fish-farming projects in the lake.

“Some locals who do the clearing for fish farming complain that they were forced to sell the logs they fell to these so-called Bakun gangsters.”

BAKUN LAKE HOLD VAST POTENTIAL FOR FISH CULTURE

VIABLE market, social equity and environmental awareness are among the key factors to consider before fish culture in the 70,000 sq km Bakun Lake — about the size of Singapore — can be successfully implemented.

CIRAD (French Agricultural Research Centre for International Development) unit leader Dr Jerome Lazard made this observation in an interview after his recent trip to the lake site, some 60km west of Belaga in the central region.

Accompanying him were Lirong Yu Abit, Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) assistant technical researcher, and Stephen Sia, general manager of Wargana Consortium Sdn Bhd, contractor of the fish farming project at Bakun.

Dr Lazard, who is adviser to Wargana, had led a team of UPM researchers on an initial study of the lake, and they found the environment and the water temperature suitable for tilapia farming.

He said from their data on water quality and fish species, it is feasible to carry out fish culture there.

“Many people would be asking why we have opted for tilapia and not other indigenous fish in the area. This is because tilapia is among the easiest and most profitable fish to farm. It’s quite popular and, most importantly, has a huge international market.”

Dr Lazard said during his recent visit to Kuching, he had met with Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Alfred Jabu on Bakun aquaculture development.

According to him, Jabu, who also holds the portfolios for Infrastructure Development and Communications, and Rural Development, is eager to know more about the progress of the fish farming project under Wargana and has expressed support for the development of fish culture at Bakun.

“The minister recognises the big challenge is generating continuous economic activities in the area, particularly through aquaculture.”

Dr Lazard said looking at global supply of wild fish stock, tilapia was the second group, after carp, being cultivated on huge scale with production reaching about 2.5 million metric tonnes a year. Salmon is third.

“Just imagine how big the demand is for tilapia in the world market. To fully tap Bakun’s economic potential, this is something worth considering.”

He also noted the insufficient fish supply to the local market due to low fish culture production by locals.

“This is where they have to start thinking about commercially viable products that are  acceptable to both local and international markets. Indigenous fish would probably be acceptable only in Malaysia.

“Besides, local species are not fully ready yet. More research is needed on their artificial breeding, nutritional requirements and culture strategies.”

Another criterion is social equity. Dr Lazard said fish farming should not only benefit the big players but must also involve all levels — small, medium and large — of the industry.

He is hopeful the project at Bakun can benefit some 15,000 people in the area, especially with sizeable private sector investments.

“For the project to be sustainable, the key factors are involvement of the local population and training for them.”

After several visits to the ponds in Asap and Batang Ai, Dr Lazard realised the need to upgrade the technical level of the fish farming sector in the state to ensure competitiveness in the global market.

“This is a must otherwise small-scale operators will not survive. I hope training can start soon and the training centre must be close to the lake.”

On environmental issues, he said one of the state government’s requirements was implementation of project with minimum negative impact on the surroundings.

According to him, this is vital not only for success of the project in the short term but also for its long-term operation to improve the socio-economic status of the local population.

“Therefore, it’s important to take water samples from the lake regularly to prevent ‘eutrophic’ water that causes poor water quality. This is to safeguard production.”

On rearing tilapia, Dr Lazard assured it is environmentally safe, saying since the species had been introduced to tropical countries, its biology and farming techniques were much easier to understand and learn in contrast to other indigenous species whose suitability for commercial aquaculture needed more R&D (research and development).

“UPM is drawing up a list of indigenous species for further research,” he added.

Dr Lazard also said the environment around Bakun Lake would change dramatically after the hydroelectric dam was closed, so there must be continuous research on the fauna as some species might vanish while some might evolve.

Among the indigenous species with good market price are labang (pangarius hiewen-husii), empurau (tor tambroides), semah (tor duoronensis), baung (mystus baramensis), tengadak (puntius swcanenfeldii) and mengalan/tengalan (puntis bulu).

“However, these species are not yet familiar to markets outside Malaysia. They have to be promoted to maximise their market potential. Also, they have to be tested first before they could be commercialised. In future, we will try to produce new species for the market,” he pointed out.

Dr Lazard said tilapia could be sold when they reached 500gm. The biggest specimen was recorded in Africa at 4.5kg but he believes the fish could grow up to 5kg.

He hoped the state government would continue to facilitate R&D on fish culture in the state, suggesting that subsidies or credit be extended to small-scale fish farmers or operators.

He proposed training to upgrade the skills of these people so that they could improve their productivity and the quality of their products.

Dr Lazard said adequate support was important to the success of a fish farming venture.
“There is a need for reliable supply of fry, feeds and other essentials to the operators to ensure consistent flow of products to the market.”

He said locals into fish farming could do their bit by setting up ponds and processing their own feeds but first, they had to be trained and exposed to the business.

Dr Lazard hoped tilapia farming would become a cornerstone for commercial fisheries in state to benefit especially the people at Bakun.

Sarawak Pantau Pembinaan Rumah Terapung Di Empangan Bakun

Berita Sabah & Sarawak

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August 23, 2011 15:00 PM

Sarawak Pantau Pembinaan Rumah Terapung Di Empangan Bakun

KUCHING, 23 Ogos (Bernama) -- Kerajaan negeri melalui beberapa agensi yang berkaitan sedang memantau aktiviti pembinaan rumah-rumah terapung ataupun "Jelatong" di Empangan Hidro Bakun yang semakin bertambah sejak akhir-akhir ini," kata Menteri Perancangan dan Pengurusan Sumber II Negeri, Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hassan.

Beliau yang juga Menteri Kemudahan Awam berkata pembinaan terlalu banyak Jelatong di empangan tersebut dikhuatiri boleh mendatangkan kesan pencemaran air selain membahayakan penghuninya.

"Ketika ini pembinaan rumah terapoung di Bakun begitu banyak seperti cendawan dan kerajaan mahu kawal ia sebelum sebarang kejadian tidak baik berlaku di sana," katanya kepada pemberita di sini.

Pada 21 Ogos lalu, Bernama mendedahkan tentang pertambahan jumlah Jelatong di empangan tersebut yang kini mencecah tidak kurang daripada 50 buah dan kebanyakkannya dimiliki oleh masyarakat Orang Ulu.

Penduduk turut menjadikan Jelatong tersebut sebagai sangkar ternakan ikan selain menjadi tempat sewaan kepada pengunjung luar khasnya penggemar alam sekitar dan kaki memancing.

Menyentuh tentang aktiviti mengambil balak yang terapung sekitar empangan itu, Awang Tengah berkata sebuah syarikat iaitu Wargana Consortium Sdn Bhd telah diberi lesen untuk mengambil balak tersebut dalam kawasan sekitar lima kilometer dari empangan.

Menurutnya sejak Jun tahun ini, Jabatan Hutan dan Perbadanan Perhutanan Sarawak telah melancarkan operasi pencegahan pembalakan haram di kawasan terbabit dan berjaya menyita 500 batang balak termasuk menyita sebuah kilang balak.

-- BERNAMA

Mount Batu Taman

Mount Batu Taman is situated 43km from Bakun Dam.
1 hour 30 minute from Bakun by using 40hp outboat engine.
Just nearby, there are many suitable river for fishing likes Benalui, Taman and Bersua. 

Sungai Pangak Waterfall

Sungai Pangak Waterfall is situated 14km from the Bakun Dam. Roughly 30 minutes from the Dam.
Most visited by local from Rumah Belor and Rumah Nyaving from Sg.Asap, Bakun Resettlement Scheme as their fishing point. Used to caught lots of fish (Baung) here before but recently the no longer the same. Very nice place for picnicking as the water is very clear and suitable for swimming. 

Belanum Waterfall

Belanum Waterfall is one of the most interesting  place to visit within the Bakun Dam reservoir. The nearest town to this is Belaga and Bintulu. From Bintulu we need to travel by 4WD car to Bakun Dam for 3 hours before using boat to this place which situated roughly 8km from the Dam which took us 24 minutes. This place is very suitable for those who likes fishing. Nearby this waterfall there are few floating house belong to the local as their fishing house or to cater the visitors to this place.

Belepeh River

Belepeh river is situated 10km or 20 minute drive by boat using 15hp outboat engine from the Bakun Dam.


This location is one of the most visited place by the locals from Sg.Asap (Bakun Resettlement Scheme) as it is the nearest to the dam and got  a lots of fish.


I went here in August 25, and brought back home 70kg of fish like: Tengadak, Baung (catfish), Adung, Semah and Sakam. Tengadak and Baung are the most. Sadly this place will be underwater once the impounding reach it maximum level somewhere in October 2011.