By: Zulfian Observer (Observer Bycatch)

That afternoon, Mr. Pendi, a fisherman from Paloh, and I sailed the waters from Kemuning to Tanjung Bender, which were a little bumpy and the wind was not so strong. The activities we did this time were related to data collection on Mr. Pendi's boat. While on the boat, I observed how Mr. Pendi performed his duties as a fisherman, such as lowering the net or setting without using the green LED light. Along the Balacan river, the net is left to drift across the water area.

After waiting for approximately 8 hours, Mr. Pendi did the houling process or pulling the net onto the boat. During the houling process, a fairly large fish was seen still hanging on the surface of the water. Not long after, the fish was pulled up to the boat until finally I could see a 114cm dolphin or porpoise that had died as a result of being entangled in the net.

The dead dolphin was thought to be picking up fish that were entangled in the net, so the dolphin was accidentally caught with the pomfret as the target catch. Then I immediately took a knife to cut the net that wrapped the dolphin before the recording process which included time caught, location caught / coordinates, size, cause of death, condition at the time of capture.

After recording, we threw the dead dolphin into the sea. Investigated, it turns out that the people in Paloh do not sell or consume dolphins caught by accident because they have a strong traditional belief. They believe that if dolphins are caught and then consumed or sold, calamity or disaster will come to them afterwards. Like, the arrival of a big storm or bad weather in Paloh waters.

In addition, the body of people who consume dolphins will react hot and sweat quite a lot. "Ape bile kite eat meatnye and until brought home kite will experience a fate that is not good," said Mr. Jai, a crew member, while repairing a rolled net.

A similar statement also came out from Mr. Pendi, "Mun dah ade ikan dolphin, means petande will come storm". Hearing this, I discouraged the intention to take a sample of dolphin meat to take home for fear of experiencing bad luck that will befall in the future.

Then, this became a big question for me, is it true or just a myth? But by looking at the events of the night after where the wind spun so strong that our nets rolled while fishing, so the catch was small and we intended to go home the next day.

Hopefully with the customary beliefs that develop in the Paloh fishing community, we can work together to help preserve dolphins by not catching them intentionally for sale or consumption. And by conducting research in Paloh, it is hoped that the community and the surrounding area will become aware that the use of LED lights can reduce the capture of turtles and increase catches and reduce net damage due to the capture of turtles and other types of protected and endangered marine biota.