MIRI: Fish bombing activities that were reported here and at the Miri-Sibuti Marine National Park in recent times are believed to be the work of non-locals and fisherman from Sabah.
Miri Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA)’s director of operations Commander Syed Nor Adli Syed Abdul Rahman said they suspected this illegal fishing method was masterminded by outsiders who had many years of experience in the trade.
“These fishermen are not new here, and most of them may have been married to locals. Because they are not locals, they tend to bring the culture of fish bombing here and use it,” he said in a recent interview with The Borneo Post.
Syed Nor Adli said MMEA were notified of this fishing method being used here by local fishermen as it had affected their livelihood.
He cautioned that fish from bombings posed a health hazard, and that bombing activities would destroy coral reefs, which are protected at the Miri-Sibuti Marine National Park.
“Miri-Sibuti Marine National Park is often the target for fish bombing because it has more fish.”
Syed Nor Adli revealed that although MMEA does conduct regular patrols, they had yet to nab the perpetrators.
Hence, he urged the public to be their ‘eyes and ears’ to halt this form of fishing activity.