Over RM800mil lost to foreign fishing vessels in M'sian waters, says Mat Sabu

KUALA LUMPUR: There were 428 cases of encroachment into Malaysian waters by foreign fishing vessels in the 2020-2023 period, says Agriculture and Food Security Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu.

He said the estimated loss from these cases amounts to RM823.88mil, adding that RM225.22mil was lost in 2020, RM238.69mil in 2021, RM200.19mil in 2022 and RM159.77mil in 2023.

Mohamad added in a written Parliamentary reply to Wan Razali Wan Nor (PN-Kuantan) on Thursday (March 21) that there were 117 cases in 2020, 124 cases in 2021, 104 cases in 2022 and 83 cases in 2023.

Wan Razali had asked the government to state the total value loss due to foreign fishing boats encroaching on Malaysian waters between 2020 to 2023.

Mohamad added that encroachment by foreign vessels is a serious issue as it can threaten Malaysia’s source from the sea and affect the livelihood of local fishermen.

He added that there were seven cases where arrests were made in 2020, eight in 2021, four in 2022 and said that no arrests were made in 2023.

Vietnamese fishing boats topped the list of arrests with 18 cases while one boat was not registered under any flag.

“The ministry takes very seriously the issue of invasion through illegal fishing activities by foreign fishing vessels in national waters.

“The ministry, through the Malaysian Fisheries Department, is always working with other enforcement agencies such as the Marine Police Force and the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency to curb this issue,” he added.