315 live sharks seized off Miri’s shores

MIRI: A fishing boat with two tonnes of fish and 315 live sharks have been detained off the shores of Miri in northern Sarawak.  

Five Vietnamese fishermen, aged 19 to 62, were arrested during an operation carried out by the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) at about 6pm on Wednesday.  

The boat, with the crew on board, has been towed to Pulau Melayu bay near Miri city.  

MMEA Miri head Mohd Fauzi Othman said two fishing boats were detected 60 nautical miles off Miri and upon checking, enforcement officers found that one of the boats did not have valid a fishing permit.  

A check on board the fishing vessel found the Vietnamese crew with two tonnes of fish and 315 live sharks which were kept in several containers.  

Initial investigations showed the possibility that the boat was heading to Vietnam with the catch.  

The crew are being probed for violating fisheries laws while the boat has been compounded.