Multi-agency operation against illegal Vietnamese fishermen bearing fruit

KUALA LUMPUR: The implementation of a “whole-government” approach to fight the menace posed by illegal Vietnamese fishermen is bearing fruit.

Deputy Defence Minister Liew Chin Tong said Op Naga, a multiagency task force operation launched two weeks ago, was a more thorough coordination involving enforcement agencies.

“This has been a very longstanding problem for us. And now, we are having more of a ‘whole government’ involvement with the participation of the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA), navy, air force, Customs, Immigration, police, Fisheries Department and even Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission.”

He said the announcement by Foreign Minister Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah on a possible treaty with Vietnam by year end was a good move in the hopes of finding a permanent solution to the illegal fishing issue.

Fisheries Department directorgeneral Datuk Munir Mohd Nawi said the multi-agency task force approach should be continually exercised.

“This is the best possible way to curb encroachment of foreign fishing vessels and to safeguard the billions of ringgit in our fisheries resources.

“On our part, the department will continually implement resource management programmes to restore the depletion of fish and marine life.”

He said one of the initiatives was to introduce artificial reefs on a large level.

“The situation is so dire that we have to get the artificial reefs going. We are very serious about this.”

On Saturday, Saifuddin said Malaysia and Vietnam agreed to find a solution to the issue of encroachment by illegal Vietnamese fishermen in Malaysian waters.

Saifuddin broached the subject during his meeting with Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and Deputy Prime Minister Pham Binh Minha, who is also Vietnam foreign minister, during an official visit to Hanoi.

Saifuddin told them the issue was a major problem for Malaysia as lock-ups for illegal fishermen and jetties berthed with seized fishing trawlers were cramped.

Saifuddin also highlighted the fact that Malaysia had to bear expenses to feed the detainees pending deportation.

The treaty with Vietnam is expected to be similar to the one with Indonesia and other neighbouring countries.

Enforcement agencies seized a 748 trawlers and detained 7,203 fishermen from Vietnam between 2006 and this month.

Op Naga, launched on April 26, successfully screened 226 Vietnamese trawlers, nabbing 28 of them and detaining 123 crew members for illegal activities.

The New Straits Times learnt that the 28 seized vessels were berthed at the MMEA jetties in Kuala Terengganu, Tok Bali and Kemaman in Terengganu.