(MY) mangrove swamps

[Guest guest]

IPOH - New Straits Times

Fish, prawn breeders encroach into mangrove

forests

by Mimi Syed Yusof

mimisy

 

June 8: Mangrove forests in Parit Buntar and Manjung are being

encroached upon by fish and prawn breeders who have illegally built

ponds in the forests.

 

The ponds are mostly scattered along coastal areas, especially at

river mouths and near the sea.

 

It is learnt that the situation was spreading and there are fears that

the ponds could cause ecological harm.

 

Most of the mangrove forests are under State Government

jurisdiction.

 

Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Tajol Rosli Ghazali said the State

Government was facing a host of problems from fish and prawn

breeders who have set up their ponds in areas where they were not

supposed to.

 

He said many areas, especially State land in Parit Buntar and

Manjung were being encroached upon by fish and prawn breeders.

 

" The State Government is aware that most of these ponds are illegal

because there is no proper planning.

 

" Some have even encroached into mangrove forests. Assistant land

or settlement officers (SO) must ensure that fish and prawn breeders

acquire land through legal means for such purposes, " he said.

 

Tajol Rosli said the situation was being closely monitored by an

enforcement team set up last year under the State Land and Mines

Department.

 

The role of the enforcement team is to ensure that encroachment of

State land is reduced. Encroachment includes illegal land settlement

and using the land for other activities.

 

" If the mangrove forests are on State land, the State Government will

have the authority to take action on the trespasser, but if they are

located in forest reserves, it will be under the jurisdiction of the

Forestry Department.

 

" However, encroachment of land for any activities should not be

allowed to continue, " he told reporters after opening the 34th

Federated Malay States Settlement Officers Union annual general

meeting here today.

 

Tajol Rosli said the State Government was planning to implement

new conditions for fish and prawn breeders if they wanted to apply for

permits to set up ponds on State Land.

 

" Thi s will include revising the terms and conditions on the setting up

of the ponds, how long the breeders had until their project proved

viable, and if they were not viable they will be required to cover up the

ponds again.

 

Earlier, in his speech Tajol Rosli said settlement officers continued to

play an important role in land administration matters.

 

He said as SOs were often on the ground, they provided input on land

areas, whether development was viable, and also check on illegal

squatters.