Fish Farms in Asia

The word “Kelong” originated from the Malay language which describes house on sticks. These houses can be found in the Asian countries mainly at sea and they are used as traps station to bring in fishes. Kelongs are used to do aquaculture thus they are usually accompanied by Floating Farm (Floating Platform), these are the Fish Farm that are used in Fish Rearing.

The Kelong is not self sufficient, it has no water pipe lines or electricity lines laid to the Kelong. The Kelong runs on diesel generators and water are broad onboard by jerry cans. Provision is also replenished weekly. Transport to the Kelong and Fish Farm is by boat although there are certain Kelong in Asia is by the shore.

The Fish Farm would rear saltwater fishes like grouper, snappers and sea bass. Catches of crabs and Lobster are also common in certain Fish Farm. The farms are usually self sustaining as the fish foods used are provided by the Kelong’s catches.

The Technology used to catch fishes and shellfishes are still very tradition but efficient. The Kelong makes use of current flow and vertical sticks stuck to the seabed to guide shoal of fishes into the Kelong where a main Fishing Net resting at the seabed awaits. The net would be lifted by machine to catch the trapped fishes. Fishing Nets holes are fine thus small fishes are also caught. Other methods of catch are by the Fishing Traps, designed to be favourable hiding environment for fishes where easy entry but difficult exit is designed.

Working in Kelongs involves routine work, where the work runs 24 hour and daily routine has to be split into shift works. The workers would harvest fishes, clean nets, repair and maintain the Kelong and fish farm. In the presence modern world less people were willing to have these life style thus these workers found on board the Kelongs would turn out to be the owners.

Over the years, some Kelongs transform into a tourism attraction in certain countries where people can have a retreat from the urban life but there still Kelongs that retain their function in the seafood industry as there are an important source for fishes.

To learn more about Kelong and Fish Farms in Asia visit http://www.fengshunli.com

Low Eng Koon