ENCROACHERS NETTED: Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) enforcement personnel gather all the 19 Vietnamese boat crew at Tun Abang Salahuddin Maritime Complex wharf in Muara Tebas, near Kuching before sending them to detention. The foreign fishermen were apprehended on board two foreign vessels about 150 nautical miles off Tanjung Po, during the agency’s Ops Permai last Saturday. The MMEA enforcers also seized 21 tonnes of fresh fish from the boats. — Photo by Chimon Upon
Shahref (right) and MMEA personnel with the detained Vietnamese fishermen.
Shahref (right) briefs reporters on MMEA’s latest operation during the press conference.
KUCHING: The 19 Vietnamese boat crew members are still under detention since their arrest during an operation by the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) off Tanjung Po here last Saturday.
According to MMEA Kuching District director Capt Shahref Steve Mac Queen Abdullah, the foreign fishermen were apprehended on board two fishing vessels, which were found to have encroached Sarawak waters – about 150 nautical miles off Tanjung Po – during Ops Permai.
He said the MMEA enforcement personnel also found that the fishermen were using trawler nets.
“There were 19 crew members including the skippers – all Vietnamese – on board both vessels. All of them are still on remand and the case is being investigated under the Fisheries Act 1985.
“Additionally, we also seized 21 tonnes of fresh fish – estimated to be about RM50,000 in value – from the vessels during Ops Permai,” he told reporters during a press conference at the Tun Abang Salahuddin Maritime Complex Jetty in Muara Tebas near here yesterday.
Upon conviction, each crew member would face a fine between RM100,000 and RM1 million or imprisonment, while the boats and all fishing equipment would be confiscated.
Adding on Shahref said so far for this year, MMEA had intercepted 34 vessels from Vietnam that had encroached into Sarawak waters.
In this regard, he called upon the local maritime community, especially fishermen and those running vessels at sea, to report to the authorities – namely MMEA and Marine Police – immediately should they spot any foreign boats entering Sarawak waters.
“If you notice a foreign boat entering our waters, inform the authorities immediately and provide key information such as the position of the vessel, as well as the time and date, to Sarawak Regional Maritime Operations Centre via 082-432544. With detailed information, we should be able to take action immediately.”