Fishermen must obey zoning rules, for example, those in Zone A are allowed to use only traditional equipment such as cast nets. – Filepic
JOHOR recorded 63 arrests of fisherman including 14 cases involving trawlers for breaching Zone A regulations in state waters.
State agriculture, agro-based industry and rural development committee chairman Datuk Zahari Sarip said there were five zones designated for fishing activities based on the Malaysian Fisheries Water Zoning System.
“They are Zone A (0-5 nautical miles), Zone B (5-12 nautical miles), Zone C (12-30 nautical miles), Zone C2 (30 nautical miles to the border of the open seas or exclusive economic zones) and Zone C3, which is the Indian Ocean.
“The permissible fishing gear for each zone has been designated.
“For example, fishermen in Zone A are only allowed to use traditional fishing equipment like cast nets and drift nets,” he said during the state assembly sitting at Bangunan Sultan Ismail in Kota Iskandar.
He added that commercial fishing equipment such as trawl nets were not allowed in Zone A.
Zahari said this in his reply to Abdul Aziz Talib (PN-Maharani) who asked about action taken in response to complaints about trawlers in waters off Muar.
He said the Johor Fisheries Department was taking necessary measures to address problems concerning trawlers which interfere with small-scale fishermen’s activities.
He said the zones helped ensure balanced socio-economic development in addition to guaranteeing the sustainability of resources for fishermen in Johor.
“Trawlers found in the coastal fishing zone have a negative impact on the coastal ecosystem.
“This includes changes to the seabed’s topography due to dredging activities in shallow seas.
“This will result in destruction of natural habitats for marine life,” he said.
Zahari added that the authorities held regular programmes to educate local fishermen on the demarcation of trawling areas and zone violations.
He added that enforcement was carried out regularly in accordance with the Fisheries Act 1985.
“The Act is relied on to avoid conflicts and disputes between coastal fishermen, who use traditional fishing equipment, and commercial fishermen using high-capacity fishing equipment.”
Zahari said multiple enforcement agencies had increased their monitoring, control and surveillance programmes by 20% compared to the previous year.
“We are also collaborating with security agencies such as the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) and the police in carrying out enforcement activities, especially in information sharing.
“The Fisheries Department’s enforcement capacity will be strengthened with additional patrol boats at the Batu Pahat Resource Protection Base.
“The assets are expected to be received at the end of 2024 or early 2025,” he said.
