Multi-agency task force to curb illegal fishing
KUALA TERENGGANU: Malaysia has established a multi-agency task force to curb illegal fishing.
Illegal fishing not only costs the country RM6 billion in revenue yearly, but also damaged the marine ecosystem.
Fisheries Department directorgeneral Datuk Munir Mohd Nawi said the task force comprised his department, the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA), marine police and other enforcement agencies.
“This is a serious issue as our seabeds are stripped and the country is being plundered. We are losing billions of ringgit.
“The time has come for us to come down hard on illegal fishing, mainly by foreigners. If left unchecked, there may be nothing left for us.”
The task force, he said, was expected to swing into action by year end.
He said this after officiating the International Acoustic Training Course for Capacity Building Programme of an OIC Country — Bangladesh.
The event was held at the Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Centre-cum-Marine Fishery Resources Development and Management Department in Chendering.
Although Munir declined to divulge further details, the New Straits Times Press learnt that the main culprits were Vietnamese.
Thousands of Vietnamese and their fishing vessels have being detained over the past decade.
Enforcement officials told the NSTP that Vietnam had been issued a “yellow card” over its citizens’ encroachments.
“Thailand and Vietnam had been issued ‘yellow cards’ by the European Commission, urging their governments to take measures to prevent their boats from fishing illegally,” said a senior officer, who declined to be named.
The yellow card is a stern warning on errant nations to crack down on illegal fishing or face a trade ban on their fish exports.
Vietnam is reportedly the world’s third largest fish and seafood exporter, trading an estimated US$10 billion (RM41.5 billion) a year.
An estimated 11 million to 26 million tonnes, or 15 per cent, of the world’s fish are reportedly caught illegally each year.
The NSTP reported that maritime bases in the South China Sea were facing increasing challenges to deal with hundreds of seized fishing boats and detained foreign fishermen.
It is learnt that up to 400 foreign vessels, mostly Vietnamese boats, have been docked at the MMEA’s limited-parking jetties in Tok Bali, Kemaman and here in Terengganu, as well as Kuantan, Pahang, in recent years.
For the first eight months of the year, 124 vessels and about 1,000 Vietnamese have been detained.