By Aida Aziz
Photo Maritim Perak
LUMUT: A local Class B1 fishing boat with four foreign fishermen was arrested at a position 4.3 nautical miles southwest of the mouth of Sungai Rungkup last Saturday afternoon.
According to the Director of the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (Maritime Malaysia) in Perak State, Maritime Captain Mohamad Shukri Khotob said, the boat was found engaged in fishing activities by the Maritime Malaysia boat operation team.
“Upon inspection of the boat, it was found to be operated by a skipper along with three crew members from Myanmar aged between 29 and 30 years old.
“Further inspection revealed that the boat was operating less than eight nautical miles from the shore.
“The case is being investigated under the Fisheries Act 1985 for violating licensing conditions, operating less than eight nautical miles from the shore,” he said in a statement here today.
Mohamad Shukri said all the fishermen were arrested while the boat and its catch along with fishing equipment were seized, and subsequently handed over to Maritime Malaysia investigators for further action.
In another incident, Maritime Perak also seized 30 sets of China prawn net traps at a location approximately 2.9 nautical miles southwest of Pulau Talang last Sunday.
“The nets, each about 10 meters long, were found by the Maritime Malaysia patrol team.
“A close investigation by the patrol team confirmed that these nets were set up by individuals or groups who were irresponsible.
“All the nets were seized and handed over to Maritime Malaysia investigators for further action,” he said.
He said the owners of the nets could be charged under Section 11(3)(c) of the Fisheries Act 1985 for fishing using unauthorized methods.
