“TAGAL” might be a foreign word to some but for Sabah’s KadazanDusun, it is the traditional practice of conservation of the river ecosystem.
It refers to a temporary fishing ban and those who adopt the system are given the opportunity to reap the reward of their abstinence only once a year.
Scientists say tagal is a system ahead of its time with the practice passed down for generations.
Today, kampung which adopt the system enjoy an abundance of fish which can be sold at the markets.
There is a customary law and those who break it must pay the price in the form of a cow.
For some, the tagal period lasts up to two years and it is lifted once every six months.
During the time, participants can catch as much fish as they can in usually about five hours. – March 19, 2019.
Villagers using a net to catch pelian during the tagal harvest festival at Kg Lingga, Kiulu. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Irwan Majid, March 19, 2019. Villagers collecting pelian during the tagal harvest festival at Kg Lingga, Kiulu. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Irwan Majid, March 19, 2019. Soup made from the pelian fish tail is among the delicacies served during tagal at Kg Lingga, Kiulu. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Irwan Majid, March 19, 2019.A diver using a net to catch fish during tagal at Kg Lingga, Kiulu. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Irwan Majid, March 19, 2019. Villagers preparing their nets to catch pelian during tagal at Kg Lingga, Kiulu. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Irwan Majid, March 19, 2019.
Traditional soup made from pelian served for lunch during tagal at Kg Lingga, Kiulu. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Irwan Majid, March 19, 2019. Women and children gathering at the riverbank during tagal at Kg Lingga, Kiulu. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Irwan Majid, March 19, 2019. A man preparing smoked pelian for tagal lunch at Kg Lingga, Kiulu. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Irwan Majid, March 19, 2019. The landmark at the entrance of Kiulu town in Sabah. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Irwan Majid, March 19, 2019.Villagers using the hanging bridge to cross the border at Kg Lingga, Kiulu. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Irwan Majid, March 19, 2019.A diver preparing spear gun hooks during the tagal harvest festival at Kg Lingga, Kiulu. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Irwan Majid, March 19, 2019.Lodineh with his daughter showing off their pelian catch during the tagal harvest festival at Kg Lingga, Kiulu. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Irwan Majid, March 19, 2019.Villagers checking out their catch during the tagal harvest festival at Kg Lingga, Kiulu. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Irwan Majid, March 19, 2019.
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