KOTA KINABALU: A trawler with four crew members were detained in Kunak waters by authorities for repeating the offence of breaching designated fishing distance.
Lahad Datu zone Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) in a statement here on Tuesday (Jan 14), said the vessel was intercepted on Monday (Jan 13) at 5.40pm about 0.1 nautical mile south of Pulau Maganting there by their maritime patrol team.
Last year, the same vessel was compounded RM1,500 for committing an offence under Fisheries Act 1985 by breaching their license stipulation which was conducting fishing activities less than 1.5 nautical mile from nearest land.
“The team was carrying out Op Pluto Timur 2/2013 and Op Tiris 3.0 when they spotted the vessel.
“Initial inspection found the trawler was handled by four local crewmen with valid documentation aged between 31 to 59 years old, where there was about two kilogrammes of catch onboard.
“Further checking the vessel’s document found the breach of the license regulations, which was the same misconduct committed with the vessel in 2024.
“All crew, vessel and catch were taken to the Lahad Datu jetty before handed over to the maritime investigating officer,” said Lahad Datu zone maritime director Maritime Commander Dzulfikhar Ali in the statement, adding that total seizure was estimated at RM90,000.
He reminded that MMEA will continue to monitor the country’s waters and will not compromise on laws broken under their maritime zone, while urging the public to channel any information regarding crimes or incidents at sea to the Lahad Datu zone maritime operation centre through Whatsapp (016-9305727) or the emergency line 999.
