By Vincent D’Silva

MERSING: The air at Teluk Buih jetty was alive with cheers of gratitude as more than 100 fishermen shouted, “Thank you J & J!” and “See you next time!” Their heartfelt appreciation followed the handover of fish houses, traps, and nets by Heinrich Jessen, Chairman of Singapore-based diversified industrial conglomerate Jebsen & Jessen (J & J).

The symbolic ceremony was witnessed by Mersing District Officer Jamil Hasni Abdullah, Social Hero Foundation (SHF) Trustee Datuk Seri Teo Shiok Fu, SHF Director of Program Farrah Baptist, and Darren How, J & J’s Head of Corporate Communications & Employee Experience.

This latest initiative extended support to nearly 300 fishermen across the Mersing district, including those living on Pulau Aur, Pulau Pemanggil, Pulau Tinggi, Pulau Sibu, as well as in the mainland communities of Tanjung Leman and Endau.

For many of these fishing families, such assistance provides not only essential tools of their trade but also renewed hope for a more sustainable future.

This handover marked the continuation of a collaboration between J & J and SHF, first launched in December 2024. That initiative brought together 20 J & J staff volunteers from Singapore, Vietnam, the Philippines, Myanmar, Thailand, Indonesia, and Malaysia.

Led by Darren How, the multinational team worked alongside SHF to assist Mersing’s fishing communities.

Over the course of a week, the volunteers built fish houses (unjam ikan), fish traps (bubu ikan), and crab and lobster nets, all of which have since been put to productive use in the waters off Johor’s east coast.

They also introduced oyster mushroom farming as an additional livelihood option, helping families diversify their income sources and reduce their dependence on unpredictable fishing yields.

One of the mushroom farms, located in Kampung Makam, is now capable of producing up to 1,200 oyster mushrooms per harvesting cycle — a valuable contribution to household incomes and food security.

Reflecting on the progress since last year, Heinrich Jessen expressed his pride in seeing tangible outcomes:

“It was most heartening to witness last year’s efforts from our partnership with Social Hero Foundation and the fishermen community in Mersing having come to fruition so meaningfully.”

To gain a closer understanding of the impact, Jessen, accompanied by SHF’s Datuk Seri Teo and Farrah as well as J & J’s Darren, boarded a motorboat to visit the fishing grounds some 10 to 20 kilometers offshore.

There, they observed the fish houses and traps in operation, seeing firsthand how the equipment has been integrated into the fishermen’s daily routines.

The group later visited the oyster mushroom farms, engaging with local villagers and witnessing how the project had taken root beyond the shoreline.

For SHF Trustee Datuk Seri Teo Shiok Fu, Jessen’s personal presence was particularly meaningful:

“We are grateful to Mr. Heinrich Jessen and the Jebsen & Jessen Group for sponsoring this meaningful initiative, which will have a lasting impact on the well-being of the fishermen community in Mersing. Besides providing fishing tools, showing care and concern is equally important, especially for those living far away on the islands.”

He added that Jessen’s visit sent a strong message of solidarity:

“Those living on the islands were not forgotten. We deeply appreciate that Mr. Jessen made this trip himself to see how J & J’s annual ‘Meet-A-Need’ initiative has truly impacted the local community.”

The initiative is part of J & J’s broader corporate social responsibility program, which emphasizes building long-term, meaningful connections with communities across Southeast Asia.

For Mersing’s fishermen, the donation of equipment came at a crucial time, as many struggle with rising operational costs, uncertain weather patterns, and the pressures of seasonal fishing.

The tools provided will not only improve fishing efficiency but also contribute to sustainability by encouraging practices that support marine biodiversity.

Meanwhile, the mushroom farming initiative offers a dependable secondary income that can help cushion families during lean fishing seasons.

For the fishermen, however, the gesture represented more than practical support. It was a reminder that their struggles and contributions are seen, valued, and supported beyond their own shores.

As the sun dipped behind the horizon at Teluk Buih jetty, the fishermen’s shouts of “Thank you J & J” carried across the waves — a chorus of appreciation that underscored the deep bonds forged through partnership, compassion, and shared commitment to livelihoods.

In that moment, it became clear that this was not merely a corporate donation, but a promise of continued solidarity — one that strengthens both communities and the seas on which they depend.