Hadi with an ‘ikan tengas’ (copper mahseer) in the Akekchep Kelah Sanctuary. — Bernama
TASTY but hard to catch, the wild mahseer or “ikan kelah” is highly desired by anglers.
The high price this freshwater game fish can fetch has also made it a popular fishing target.
However, after decades of overfishing, the mahseer is now on the brink of extinction, prompting government action.
Among conservation efforts is the creation of mahseer sanctuaries. One of these is the Akekchep Kelah Sanctuary along Sungai Tiang, Grik.
The river is a part of Perak’s Royal Belum State Park.
The sanctuary is managed by the local Jahai (“akekchep” means “don’t catch” in the Jahai language).
According to the Perak and Kedah Department of Orang Asli Development (Jakoa) director Hairulnizam Abd Rahman, the Sungai Tiang mahseer habitat was discovered in 2016.
It was found as a result of efforts by Tenaga Nasional Bhd (TNB) and the Jahai residing near Sungai Tiang.
Overseen by the local community, the area was deemed a potential mahseer conservation centre.
“In 2020, TNB handed over this site to Jakoa.
“We, in turn, handed it over to the villagers of Kampung Orang Asli Sungai Tiang to enable them to manage the habitat through the Sungai Tiang Orang Asli Cooperative (Koast) set up in the same year,” Hairulnizam told Bernama.
Getting to the sanctuary is by boat from Pulau Banding public jetty in Grik to the Sungai Tiang jetty. This journey takes one hour and 45 minutes, depending on the water level of Banding Lake.
The lower the water level, the longer the journey takes.
At the Sungai Tiang jetty, travellers transfer to a pole boat for another hour’s ride.
The sanctuary is reached after a 15-minute hike via a narrow trail. The hike offers a sense of tranquillity.
However, the arduous journey explains why the sanctuary attracts few visitors even though it is open to the public all year round.
Hairulnizam said the sanctuary only received about 200 visitors annually.
He revealed Jakoa’s plans to boost visitor numbers to increase locals’ incomes. All visits to the sanctuary are managed by Koast.
According to Hairulnizam, regulated fishing using the tagal system is allowed.
Hairulnizam says Jakoa plans to boost visitor numbers to increase locals’ incomes.
This system, set up in Sabah to conserve natural resources, divides a river into four zones: green, blue, yellow and red.
“In the green zone, fishing is allowed as part of the daily activities for locals and tourists, but subject to specific regulations.
“The blue zone is designated for commercial sport fishing.
“The yellow zone allows an annual fishing activity known as ‘chepkomkom’ during which the Kampung Sungai Tiang Orang Asli fish once a year,” he explained.
Meanwhile, fishing is prohibited in the red zone, which constitutes the mahseer sanctuary.
Kampung Orang Asli Sungai Tiang is home to 454 people from 118 families whose main activities include fishing and gathering forest resources.
About 27% of them are Koast members who manage the sanctuary, which is also home to the ikan tengas (copper mahseer) and various other fish species.
“This sanctuary is part of efforts to conserve Sungai Tiang’s native fish, with the mahseer and ikan tengas being the main species targeted for conservation,” said Hairulnizam.
Village headman Hadi Mes, 37, said feeding the fish was one of the main activities visitors to the sanctuary could enjoy.
“To interact with the fish, visitors can stand on a platform we built from bamboo and small wooden planks.
Hadi said the best time for visitors to observe the mahseer was during the monsoon season or from September to December.
“That’s the mahseer breeding season, when the river is filled with this fish.
“Outside of the breeding season, they are harder to see,” he said, adding that the river water turns murky when it rains.
On the challenges of managing the sanctuary, Hairulnizam said wildlife such as elephants, otters and monitor lizards posed a threat, with the site being part of the Royal Belum State Park.
“But all that is under control,” he assured, saying, “What we are more worried about is the threat posed by humans, as the villagers here depend on forest and river resources.
“If the mahseer continues to be caught for personal or commercial use, the species will eventually disappear.
“This is what we want to avoid,” he said, adding that some outsiders also fish there illegally.
Hairulnizam said Jakoa, along with various government agencies and non-governmental organisations, was also working with the local Orang Asli community to develop the Akekchep Kelah Sanctuary as a tourist destination.
Currently, visitor entry is limited due to infrastructure constraints such as the lack of accommodation and a shortage of boat services.
Hairulnizam revealed long-term plans that included developing complete facilities on-site.
“We don’t allow overnight stays (in tents) due to the risk of wildlife attacks.
“However, we plan to allow overnight stays (in future) as reaching this location is time-consuming,” he said, adding that plans were underway to set up 10 camping sites by next year.
Currently, only day trips to the sanctuary are available.
Hairulnizam said Koast offered visitors three packages priced between RM900 and RM1,400, comprising boat rides, fish feeding, rafting and trekking activities.
“There are also other attractions here like waterfalls, Rafflesia flowers and the Sungai Klewang Orang Asli Village where visitors can observe the daily lives of the Jahai ethnic group,” he added.
For more information on visits to Akekchep Kelah Sanctuary, contact Hadi at 019-855 2132.
