Agencies deflecting the blame

Enforcement hampered by insufficient cooperation between agencies

The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency and Fisheries Department are saying that the massive loss of the nation’s marine resources to foreign fishermen is not their fault. They point to weaknesses in the industry ecosystem instead.

AGENCIES tasked with safeguarding Malaysia’s marine resources seem to be playing the blame game following revelations that the country is losing billions of ringgit to illegal encroachment by foreign fishermen.

They are blaming the lack of power and inadequacies in laws as the reasons they face challenges in carrying out enforcement against foreign fishing vessels that encroach into Malaysia’s Exclusive Economic Zone.

A Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency officer based in the east coast of the peninsula, speaking on condition of anonymity, said enforcement activities were hampered due to insufficient cooperation between the agency and the Fisheries Department.

“The encroachment of foreign fishing vessels into Malaysian waters is a long-standing problem faced by coastal officers in most states. There is limited information shared between agencies... For instance, on the list of deep- sea fishing licence holders in the country.

“The system at the Fisheries Department is not comprehensive enough and allows room for it to be easily manipulated by illegal trawlers.

“We need to look at where these marine resources land, where foreigners get their food and fuel supply, allowing them to operate here, and tighten inspection of vessels that dock to ensure they do not use prohibited fishing equipment, such as drag nets or pair-trawler methods.”

The MMEA officer said the Fisheries Department would sometimes report encroaching vessels, but due to the vastness of the sea, its varying conditions and the fact that there were too many vessels in the area, it took time for the agency to locate the target or “climb on board each and every vessel” to check them.

“Another issue we face at sea is when vessels with expired licences continue to fish out our resources to be sold in neighbouring countries.

“These boats are not supposed to go out and fish, but they still do so fearlessly, because even if they are caught by us, they are only subjected to a small fine,” he said, adding that the amount could be considered a mere “slap on the wrist”, compared with the money they would earn from selling our resources in other countries.

The officer said a new and more relevant law, with heavier punishments, should be drawn up to meet current challenges at sea. Sabah and Labuan MMEA di

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