BY: Aida Aziz
The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (APMM) through the Kuala Kurau Maritime Zone has seized 105 units of dragon traps (fish traps, known as ‘bubu naga’ in Malay) in two different locations in Kerian waters, recently.
Kuala Kurau Maritime Zone Director, Maritime Commander Mohd Najhan Azman Hamid said, these two seizures were made after detecting a suspicious flag suspected of marking a dragon trap when a Malaysian Maritime boat was conducting a routine patrol at the location.
“The results of the inspection have found a total of 53 units of dragon traps at a position eight nautical miles southwest of the Kuala Gula estuary, here at around 5.35 pm last Saturday.
“While another 52 units of dragon traps were found at the same time but in a different position, which is six nautical miles southwest of the Kuala Kurau estuary, yesterday,” he said in a statement today.
He said that all the dragon traps seized for both cases were estimated to amount to RM 7,350 with a value of RM 70 per unit and were taken to the Kuala Kurau Maritime Zone Jetty for further action.
He added that the case is being investigated under Section 11 (3)(c) of the Fisheries Act 1985 which is installing or causing to be installed any fish splints, fishing equipment or fish collecting devices without written permission from the Director General of Fisheries Malaysia.
Maritime Malaysia reminds the maritime community to always comply with the laws that have been set for the common welfare.
Any complaints, misconduct and emergency incidents that occur at sea can be reported to the Kuala Kurau Maritime Zone Operations Center at 05-7279919 or MERS 999 for immediate response.
