TELUK INTAN: For the past one month, fishermen in Penang, Perak and Selangor have been overjoyed with bountiful catch of big prawns in the Strait of Malacca, so much so that the price of big prawns is down by 30 per cent.

A fisherman who declined to be named told Sin Chew Daily fishermen at a Chinese fishing village in Perak’s Bagan Datuk district could catch up to 3,000 kg of big prawns a day!

Fishermen in other fishing villages were also enjoying similar harvests, he said.

“Many old fishermen here have never experienced such a situation, ‘’ he said.

Malaysia Fish Industries General Association President Chia Tian Hee said the ocean has always brought surprises for fishermen, and different types of fishes and prawns show up in bulk volumes.

“This is a generous gift from the ocean!’’ he declared excitingly.

In the past, fishermen occasionally caught large volumes of kembong and other types of fishes, too.

“The prices of prawns are down because of the bountiful harvest, but fishermen are still making good profits.

“They are just unable to predict a good harvest, but hope such good harvest can last longer,’’ he said.