Foreign fishing vessels taking away marine products hearsay

KOTA KINABALU: Marine products caught by deepsea fishing vessels in Sabah are landed in the state and there is a daily record of it, Agriculture and Food Industry Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Yahya Hussin said.

He said the allegation that foreign fishing vessels were taking away the state’s marine products worth billions of ringgit was not accurate.

“This is hearsay... there is no proof that they are taking billions of ringgit worth of marine products. We need proof,” Yahya said when replying to Kapayan assemblyman Dr Edwin Bosi who wanted to know how the government is going to prevent foreign fishing vessels from encroaching into Sabah.

Bosi told the House that foreign vessels were encroaching into Sabah waters to fish and take the marine products out of the state.

At this juncture Yahya interjected and said that Bosi’ allegation was just hearsay and there was no proof to the allegation.

Bosi replied that he was quoting the Kota Kinabalu Fishing Boat Owners Association chairman whose statement was published by a local newspaper.

“There is no proof and the allegation makes it seem as if we are not doing anything. This is something to do with my ministry... this is a very serious allegation that we are losing marine products in the billions and then it involves foreign vessels.

“We are admitting that we bought vessels from Vietnam and other countries but registered to local businessmen and yet there is a lot of talk that the fish not landed in Sabah. We have records... everyday we are recording the fish landing in Sabah by kilos, by tonnes.

“So how can this kind of allegation is being made by the opposition?” Yahya lamented.

Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman also stood up to reply and said that the government would not compromise when it comes to encroachment by foreign fishing vessels.

“We will arrest any foreign vessel that encroaches into our water and there have been many arrests and detention of vessels from Vietnam. We are always monitoring our waters and if they come into our territiory, “tiada maaf bagi mu... we will arrest,” he stressed.

“I know the Agriculture and Food Industry Ministry is also monitoring the situation to ensure no encroachment by illegal fishermen,” he said.