BATU PAHAT: Six Indonesian fishermen were detained by the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) for illegally fishing in waters off Batu Pahat.
Batu Pahat zone MMEA Maritime Commander Mohd Haniff Mohd Yunus said they were arrested 14 nautical miles (25.92km) southwest of Tanjung Labuh on Thursday (June 6) at 1.30pm.
“The fishermen on board two fishing vessels were found to have encroached into Malaysian territorial waters to conduct illegal fishing activities using drift nets,’’ he said in a statement.
Mohd Haniff said they were nabbed during Ops Jaksa, Ops Tiris 3.0 and Ops Patkor Optima Malindo 31A/2024 within Batu Pahat waters.
He said the Indonesian fishermen aged between 36 and 56 years did not possess valid identification documents to enter Malaysian waters.
Mohd Haniff said the case is being investigated under Section 15 (1)(a) of the Fisheries Act 1958 for not having documents issued by the Malaysian authorities to carry out fishing in Malaysian waters.
“The fishermen were brought to the MMEA Batu Pahat Zone post to assist with the investigation,’’ he said.
Mohd Haniff urged those with information and complaints on maritime-related activities and accidents in Batu Pahat waters to contact the MMEA Batu Pahat Zone hotline at 07-4344020 or the emergency line at MERS999.
