The Star 29 Jul 09;
KUALA TERENGGANU: Environmentalists have until Aug 3 to raise their objections to the environmental impact assessment (EIA) report on the proposed 1,000ha shrimp farming project in Setiu.
The EIA report on the Integrated Shrimp Aquaculture Park (iSHARP) in Penarik, near Setiu, was posted on the Department of Environment website (http://gis.doe.gov.my) yesterday.
Though the report was supportive of the project provided some measures were put in place to protect the environment, one tour operator based here has expressed his concern that the Setiu wetlands may be damaged.
Alex Lee, who operates Ping Anchorage Travel and Tours, said the wetlands are known for migratory birds, honey bees, gelam trees and critically endangered river terrapins (Batagur baska) and painted terrapin (callagur borneoensis) are found in Sg Caluk while green turtles (Chalonia mydas) and the Olive Ridley turtle (Lepidochelys olivaceae) nest in Kg Kuala Setiu Baharu, close to the project site.
He said: “There is potential for eco-tourism in the area which is getting popular. Locals have also replanted the area with mangrove and nipah trees.
“I am worried that the shrimp farm may impact the wetlands negatively and affect eco-tourism and the environment.”
The report said “the development of iSHARP would be a significant boost to the shrimp production capacity of Malaysia and augur well for the Government’s objective to increase aquaculture production to supplement declining marine capture fisheries.“The iSHARP project is a High Impact Project identified in the second stimulus package announced by the Government to boost the economy of Penarik in Setiu that has been identified as an Aquaculture Industrial Zone by the Department of Fisheries.”
State Industrial, Commerce and Environment Committee chairman Toh Chin Yaw said the state government would implement mitigation measures to protect the environment when the project, located 4.5km from the wetlands, takes off later this year.
Toh said the state government will monitor to ensure the Environmental Management Plan, Wildlife Management Plan and Emergency Response Plan are im- plemented before any work at the site can start.
Officers from the state Department of Environment will oversee the development.
“We are concerned as the proposed site is environmentally sensitive,” he said yesterday.
Toh said the state government will safeguard the environment especially along Sg Caluk and its tributaries, which are habitats for river terrapin and waterways for nesting turtles.
Meanwhile, Kampung Fikris Village Development and Security head Adnan Mohamad said iSHARP would transform a degraded Gelam forest in Setiu into a productive shrimp production that will create 1,500 jobs for locals.
Kampung Fikri is one of the villages fringing the project site. The others are Rhu Sepuluh, Kampung Bukit Caluk, Kampung Penarik, Kampung Baru Penarik, Kampung Mangkuk, Kampung Nyatoh, Kampung Permaisuri and Kampung Banggol.
Adnan said villagers, predominately fishermen, would have the opportunity to be employed as local residents will get priority for 70% of the jobs from the project.
Adnan said there were some villagers who opposed the project without realising the positive economic boost of the farm.