Ministry wants power to issue deep-sea fishing licences returned to Sabah
KOTA KINABALU: Minister of Agriculture and Food Industry Datuk Junz Wong has requested the Ministry of Agriculture and Agro-based Industry to reinstate the authority to issue deep-sea fishing licences to the Sabah authority.
Junz said it is important for the state to have the power to issue such licences as it would enable the state to resolve illegal fishing activities in deep waters and coastal areas which have been rampant in Sabah.
Junz said, the rampant illegal fishing activities occurring in Sabah waters has resulted in severe losses to the state revenues, with no end in sight to this continuing problem.
“With Sabah having the power to issue deep-sea fishing license reinstated, it would put the State in a better position to resolve these illegal fishing activities in Sabah’s deep waters and coastal areas,” he explained.
The minister strongly urged the relevant authorities to continuously monitor deep-sea fishing activities in Sabah waters in order to prevent illegal fishing activities, especially those using Vietnamese boats.