State’s marine resources under increasing threat from foreign fishing vessels
MMEA enforcement personnel guarding the 30 crew members from Vietnam detained for illegal fishing in the state’s waters. — Photo by Tan Song Wei
KUCHING: The number of intrusions by foreign fishing vessels in the state’s waters had increased as since January this year, the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) has detained 11 of them and arrested a total 131 crew members.
This was disclosed by MMEA Sarawak chief First Admiral Ismaili Bujang Pit at a press conference at Tun Abang Salahuddin Maritime Complex (Komtas) in Muara Tebas near here yesterday.
“This is a serious issue (intrusion) as these vessels were detected near the shore. Thus, a drastic approach will be implemented to overcome the issue by enhancing enforcement in the state’s waters to stop any future intrusion,” he said.
He added most of the foreign fishing caught intruding into Sarawak waters were from Vietnam and since 2006 the state MMEA has detained a total of 1,360 Vietnamese for illegally fishing in the state’s waters.
To avoid detection by MMEA patrols foreign fishing vessels are now masquerading as local fishing boats to fish in Sarawak waters illegally.
This ruse was discovered by Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) when it detained four foreign vessels approximately 85 nautical miles off Tanjung Sirik near Bintulu on May 14.
“This is a classic case of foreign vessels disguised as local vessels by using local registration number. However, a check with the Fisheries Department showed no such vessels in their system. All four vessels bore a fake registration number,” he noted.
He added that upon inspection of the four vessels the MMEA patrol team found out that they were from Vietnam.
A total of 30 crew members aged between 17 and 50 were detained and their vessels towed to Komtas for further investigation under the Fisheries Act, 1985.
The estimated value of the foreign vessels was RM25 million, and nine tonnes of fish worth RM72,000 were also seized.
“The case is being investigated under Fisheries Act 1985…If found guilty, the boat crew and its skippers can be fined not more than RM1 million each while the boats can be impounded,” Ismaili said.