KUCHING: The Sarawak government now has full authority to approve and issue deep-sea fishing permits and licences.
Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas said this was agreed during the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) Technical Committee Meeting on July 18.
“It has been agreed to empower Sarawak (Director of Marine Fisheries Sarawak) to approve and issue all permits and licences for fishing vessels and equipment for Zone A, B and C.
“We no longer need to refer to the Department of Fisheries Malaysia in Putrajaya,” he said.
Uggah, who is also Infrastructure and Port Development Minister, said previously the federal government had granted Sarawak the authority to issue permits and deep-sea licences for Zone C2 fishing vessels only.
He was speaking at a press conference held after officiating the thanksgiving prayer ceremony in conjunction with the Sarawak 60th Anniversary of Independence within Malaysia held here today.
In addition, he said, the Sarawak government is also empowered to determine the demarcation and boundary of its territorial sea and inland waters.
As such, it could avoid overlapping areas and powers with other state and federal agencies such as the Sarawak Agriculture Department, Sarawak Rivers Board, Land and Survey Department, Sarawak Marine Fisheries Department, Fisheries Development Authority of Malaysia (LKIM), marine police and Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA).
