MMEA intercepts fishing boat off Tanjung Po

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The Class C2 boat intercepted by the MMEA off Tanjung Po.

KUCHING: The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) intercepted a local fishing boat off Tanjung Po near here recently.

Ten of the crew members on board the vessel were foreigners.

The agency said the skipper had failed to show any permit for him to employ a foreign crew, which was against the fishing licensing agreement.

“The Class C2 boat was spotted by MMEA some 4.5 nautical miles off Tanjung Po, at around 1pm,” said MMEA Sarawak director First Admiral (Maritime) Zin Azman Md Yunus in a statement yesterday.

He, however, said all of the 10 Indonesians possessed valid travelling and working permits.

“Only the skipper and three other crew members are locals.

“All those onboard are of the ages between 20 and 59 years old.”

The vessel, crew and about 500kg of catch were brought to the MMEA Sarawak headquarters in Muara Tebas for further action under the Fisheries Act 1985.