MMEA nets foreign fishing vessel, seizes 200kg of catch

KUCHING: The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency ( MMEA) detained a foreign fishing vessel laden with 200kg of catch during a routine patrol and inspection early yesterday.

MMEA Sarawak senior assistant director of Carilamat and Disaster Relief Unit, Lt Commander Musli Jaffar said the vessel was stopped by a patrol boat about 52.6 nautical miles northwest of Tanjung Sirik around 5.30am.

“The skipper and two crew are believed to be from Vietnam. All of them failed to produce any identification documents when requested by the enforcement team. We were informed of the vessel’s presence in our waters by local fishermen,” he told a press conference at the Tun Abang Salahuddin Maritime Complex jetty at Muara Tebas, here yesterday.

Musli said an inspection of the vessel found an estimated 200kg of marine catch, adding the vessel is believed to have only recently started its illegal fishing activity.

The case is being investigated under the Fisheries Act 1985, with the skipper facing a fine of RM1 million and up to two years’ imprisonment if found guilty. The crew members, meanwhile, face a fine of RM100,000 and up to two years’ jail if convicted.

The maritime community can report the presence of suspicious vessels in the country’s waters to MMEA Sarawak via its 24-hour hotline 082- 432544.

Musli points to the seized fishing vessel which had encroached into the country’s waters.

Lt Commander Musli Jaffar