KUALA TERENGGANU: The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) has detained 47 foreign fishermen, including four skippers while they were illegally fishing in the country’s waters last Thursday.
Maritime District Nine (DM 9) First Admiral Xavier Thevandas said all the fishermen, who were from Vietnam, were caught aboard four fishing boats around 120 nautical miles from Kuala Terengganu near the Duyung C oil rig.
He said all the boats along with its equipment and catch worth more than RM3.5 million were seized during routine inspection rounds by 26 MMEA personnel.
“Realising the presence of the authorities, the three boats tried to flee when they were approached by the KM Segantang ship but later surrendered.
“However, during the trip back to the jetty, DM 9 Kuala Terengganu detected another foreign purse seine boat about 30 nautical miles from the first location,” he told reporters here yesterday. — Bernama