Traditional shellfish gathering becomes a wetland tourism attraction

Visitors to Setiu are trading the usual sightseeing itinerary for a rake, a small knife and a walk across the wetlands at low tide. The reward is fresh lokan clams and cockles gathered by hand, along with a close look at the traditional life of Terengganu’s coastal communities.

For Zainatul Akmal Khalil, 67, from Sungai Buloh in Selangor, the experience was a first. She had always seen lokan being sold at markets, but had never collected them herself. She came with her family and said the outing allowed them to enjoy the wetlands and Terengganu’s beaches while experiencing a way of life rarely encountered by city residents.

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All this time I had only seen lokan at the market, but this time I was able to look for them myself, and the experience was really interesting. I came with my family and was able to enjoy the natural beauty of Terengganu’s wetlands as well as its beautiful beaches.

Nor Hasni Ahmad, 47, from Kota Bharu, Kelantan, brought her children so they could experience local culture beyond television and social media. She normally buys cleaned lokan in Tok Bali, Kelantan, but said eating shellfish gathered by the family itself felt more satisfying.

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Most importantly, this activity allows me to spend time with my family while introducing my children to the culture and way of life of the local community. Before this, we only saw it on television or social media, but now we can experience it ourselves.

Tour guide Suhaimi Taha, 53, said the activity is especially popular during school holidays. Operators can make as many as nine trips a week during those periods, compared with two in ordinary weeks. Guides take visitors to sandbars near Kampung Fikri and Kampung Pengkalan Gelap when the tide is low, teaching them to search with traditional tools such as iron rakes and small knives.

Suhaimi said the activity could be developed further as an experience-based tourism product because it offers visitors something different: not simply a view of local life, but the chance to take part in it.

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We also teach them how to gather shellfish traditionally, using special equipment such as iron rakes and small knives, so they not only obtain a catch but also understand the methods practiced by earlier generations.