considered popular fishes among the locals. the Empurau is still found breeding near the upper tributaries of Rajang such as the Balleh River, and also near the Bakun Dam. Economy The major economic activity in the upper reaches of the Rajang River is logging. Among the types of wood that are extracted for exports are Ramin, plywood, Kapur, Meranti, Keruing, and Belian. Rice is the dominant crop along the middle section of the Rajang basin. Trading of Engkabang fruits ("illipe nuts") were commonly traded in the 1960s and 1970s, with the trade centred on Sibu. The fruits are also a food for fish such as empurau that populate the river. Other agricultural activities in the Rajang basin include the cultivation of rubber, pepper and vegetables, and poultry domestication. Trade The Rajang Port Authority (RPA) is the main regulatory body for coordinating the trade activities of all five river ports along the Rajang River. RPA serves to provide maintenance, adequate and efficient port services for all users of the ports. It is located at the Sibu port operation centre Sibu and Sungai Merah can be assessed via a shorter route through the Paloh river where the distances from the mouth of the river can be shortened to 82 km and 92 km respectively. In 2012, RPA recorded a total revenue of RM 30.1 million although its total cargo throughput went down from 5.0 million to 3.2 million tonnes from the previous year. The five river ports along the Rajang river (arranged by their distances from the river mouth) are: Tanjung Manis (30 km, maximum Gross tonnage (GT): 32,000, mainly for handling logs and timber products) Sarikei (49 km, maximum GT: 3,000, mainly for handling agricultural products and consumer goods around Sarikei area) Bintangor (66 km, maximum GT: 2,500) Sibu (113 km, maximum GT: 10,000, mainly for handling timber and agricultural products) Sungai Merah (Near Sibu, 116 km, maximum GT: 2,500, mainly for handling fuel oil products) Tourism River cruises for tourists were run on the Rajang between Sibu and the Pelagus Rapids Resort in Kapit from 2009 until 2012, but were terminated because of logistical and operational difficulties. During 2017's "Visit Sibu Year", longhouse visits along the Rajang River were promoted as an ecotourism project. Crocodiles, which live by the river banks, became the mascot for the event. Transportation The town of Sibu can be assessed by oceangoing vessels for 80