Fishing boat with 20 tonnes giant clams seized

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Close to 20 tonnes of giant clams were uncovered on the fishing boat.

KOTA KINABALU: The marine police Kota Kinabalu seized a fishing boat that had been illegally collecting close to 20 tonnes of giant clams, a protected marine treasure, at Pulau Mengalum waters.

The 20 tonnes of giant clams, equivalent to 20,000 kilogrammes, are estimated to be worth around RM400,000.

Sabah Police Commissioner Datuk Hamza Taib said the police had also detained the skipper and eight crew members, all Vietnamese, aged 20 to 40 who were on the boat.

“This is the first arrest of its kind (giant clams), but they may have been carrying out this activity for a long period of time,” he said in a press conference here yesterday.

Hamza said the fishing boat, designed Vietnamese style, was a joint venture between a local company and its Vietnam counterpart.

He said marine police were carrying out Ops Cantas Laut at Pulau Mengalum waters when they detained and inspected the fishing boat at 7.30am on April 10.

Upon inspection, marine police found the giant clams in the boat which they believed to be obtained from our seabed.

“Giant clams are protected species. There aren’t many of them in the world.

“I believe out of 10 species of giant clams, nine are found in Sabah,” Hamza said, adding that giant clams were normally used as decoration and for cosmetic purpose whilst its flesh was edible.

Any individual who wanted to harvest giant clams must obtain a special approval from the authorities, Hamza said.

In this case, the Vietnamese were found to be harvesting the giant clams without any valid permit or licence.

The suspects are now under police custody and will be detained for further investigation.

Hamza said the case had been referred to the Land and Survey Department, adding that the police had classified the case under Section 168 of the Sabah Land Ordinance (Cap 68) for removing and taking marine treasures without approval from the state government, which upon conviction, carried a fine not exceeding RM100,000 or imprisonment not exceeding five years.

With the arrest and seizure of the giant clams, Hamza hoped to inform the public that harvesting giant clams was an offence.

He added that police believed the suspects received cooperation from people living near the island and urged the public not to be involved in the activity as giant clams were a valuable marine treasure in Sabah.