When a fellow fisherman asked if the haul included any “geragau” or shrimp, one snorted and said: “One can only dream of catching those nowadays.”

The fishermen come from the Portuguese Settlement just 2km away, where shrimp is used as the main ingredient in famous Melaka condiments, such as belacan and cincalok.

However, the fishermen said shrimp has been in short supply in recent years.

They believe the reclamation work in front of the settlement has affected a popular spot for netting shrimp.

Martin Theseira, the chairman of Save the Portuguese Community Action Committee – a loose group determined to preserve the Portuguese heritage – said shrimp used to come up to the coast near the settlement between June and December.

“During those six to eight months, the ‘geragau’ catch would be so plentiful,” Theseira, a former fisherman, recalled.

“The whole village would be drying geragau, and preparing belacan and cincalok.  There would also be the fragrant smell of prawn cutlet being deep-fried. It was so beautiful back then.”

Spending more to catch less

Theseira said the settlement’s residents had protested against reclamation projects since the 1970s, but their pleas have always fallen on deaf ears.

Fisherman Shaun Marsh, 23, said his community had lost suitable  fishing grounds as a result of past reclamation work.

Marsh said nowadays, casting their nets in the usual spots sometimes did not yield anything.

“So where do you want us to cast our nets (to fish)?”

Marsh said he had also been suffering losses due to the dwindling catch and increased expenses as he had to venture further out to find better fishing areas.

He said prior to the reclamation work, he could earn about RM25,000 after a month out at sea. Now, he barely manages to get RM10,000.

Marsh said fishermen would spend up to RM5,000 a month to replace damaged nets and RM3,000 a month on fuel for their boats.

“So how much would I have left?”

Loss of heritage

For people like Theseira and Marsh, losing the sea and their ability to fish would not only be detrimental to their pockets but also their cultural identity.

Theseira said the fishermen were custodians of their heritage as descendants of early Portuguese settlers, but they have now been separated from the main community after having to move their docks.

“They speak the language (Melaka Portuguese creole) fluently among themselves. They carry on the tradition of knowing how to read the weather. They understand the sea, the seasons, the weather,” he said.

“Take those away and eventually, the language and the way of life (as Melakan Portuguese) will eventually disappear.”

He also fears that the popular Festa San Pedro, which is held annually in honour of the patron saint of fishermen, St Peter, will be a thing of the past if the fishermen are unable to continue with their work.

With another deep-sea port project taking shape at their doorstep, Theseira said the settlement’s only hope of survival rests on the authorities reconsidering their plans.

“My wish is for the government, the developers and those involved in this (project) to seriously reconsider the reclamation work,” he said, adding it was a form of reckless development.