Over 50 fishermen in Tanjung Dawai today staged a peaceful protest against sand mining activities in Kuala Muda, involving the coastal areas of between five and ten nautical miles from Pulau Sayak and Pulau Bidan.

The fishermen claimed that the activities were affecting their livelihood and income.

Their representative, Mokhtar Mohamad, 47, said the sand mining activities had become rampant and created more problems since July this year, hence prompting the fishermen to voice out their dissatisfaction.

“The miner’s move to leave mud all over the areas has not only caused problems to the fishermen, but has also destroyed fish-breeding areas.

“We don’t know which company is responsible for the activities or whether they are legal. That’s why we are hoping that the relevant authority will help us solve this problem,” he said when met in Sungai Petani today.

He said the fishermen had also lodged a report concerning the matter at the Tanjung Dawai police station on Dec 3, asking the police to investigate the activities.

- Bernama