Dept revokes deep-sea fishing licences of 15 fishermen

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KUCHING: The state Marine Fisheries Department has revoked the deep-sea fishing licences of 15 fishermen operating from Tanjung Manis for various types of offences committed.

Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Alfred Jabu said the department was also waiting for a response to the show-cause letters issued to 20 deep-sea licence holders as to why their licences should not be revoked.

He said this at a press conference after opening a seminar organised by the Malaysian Fisheries Department at a leading hotel here yesterday.

He also said that illegal deep-sea fishing activities were more widespread in Tanjung Manis compared to other areas in the state such as Kuching, Sibu, Bintulu and Miri.

Among the main offences that these licence holders are suspected to have committed are conducting illegal trade with foreign fishermen or leasing out their licences to other parties.

Jabu, who is also Minister of Modernisation of Agriculture, explained that deep-sea fishing vessels were required to install a Vessel Tracking System (VTS) which is monitored by the department via Global Positioning Satellite (GPS).

“It becomes highly suspicious when the VTSs are turned off for a considerable amount of time as it could be the time when they are trading our state’s fishes to fishermen from other countries or encroaching into the borders of other countries,” he added.

The state, he said, had issued 163 deep-sea fishing licences including 95 active licence holders operating in Tanjung Manis.

Jabu also said his ministry would submit a proposal to build and improve the basic infrastructures in Batang Ai for aquaculture projects under the 11th Malaysia Plan.

The project proposal would include the building of a wharf for vessels to moor as well as a storage facility to preserve the famous Batang Ai tilapia fish and other marine resources.

“However, we cannot quantify the total costs to complete these facilities. If we cannot get the full amount, at least we can make it operational and improve it by stages from there,” said Jabu, who is also Minister of Rural Development.

He also said the integrated cage farming project in Batang Ai was spearheaded by Salcra and came under the National Key Economic Areas (NKEA) – Entry Point Project (EPP) 4.

The project, which started in 2012 and spans 8,400ha is capable of producing an annual yield of about 5,000 metric tonnes of fishes.

Malaysian Fisheries Department deputy director Zulkafli Abdul Rashid, Assistant Minister of Agriculture (Research and Marketing) Datuk Mong Dagang, Sarawak Marine Fisheries Department director Belayong Nyuak and Sarawak Agriculture Department director Datu Lai Kui Fong were also present at the press conference.