BINTULU: The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) has detained a local fishing vessel for allegedly fishing less than its permitted distance as specified in their license book last Friday (Oct 21).
MMEA Bintulu Zone director Captain Mohd Khairol Anuar Saad said the arrest took place some seven nautical miles off Tanjung Kidurong around 3.30pm.
Prior to the detention, the five crew members of the fishing boat, including its skipper, were pulling in their nets in an unauthorised area.
“Inspections found that four of the crew members are Indonesians and another is a local. The Indonesians have their passports and permits to work on a fishing vessel from the Malaysian Fisheries Department.
“The crew, aged between 26 and 53, together with the vessel, fishing equipment and 300kg of freshly caught fish, were escorted to the Bintulu Maritime Zone Vessel Detention Centre for further action,” he said in a statement.
Mohd Khairol said the case would be investigated under Section 8(b) of the Fisheries Act 1985 for having violated the valid conditions of the licence such as fishing less than the permitted distance, which is liable to a compound from the Malaysian Fisheries Department.
Lately, MMEA Bintulu has received complaints from the coastal fishing community regarding a large number of local fishing vessels especially class C boats, encroaching the coastal area and damaging the equipment of coastal fishermen.
“Following that, the agency has scheduled asset patrol movements in areas, which often become focal points as reported.
“The agency will not compromise on offences related to the encroachment of local fishing boats in coastal areas as it can cause damage to the coastal ecosystem and affect the income of small fishermen.
“Hence, the maritime community is reminded to always comply with all regulations and laws before conducting any activity at sea,” he said.
The maritime community is also encouraged to channel information and complaints pertaining to suspicious activity or emergency at sea to the Bintulu Maritime Zone Maritime Operations Centre at 086-314254 and Sarawak Maritime Operations Centre at 082-432544.
