KUALA LUMPUR: Major amendments to the Fisheries Act 1985 will impose increased penalties on various offences, including intrusion by foreign fishermen into Malaysian territorial waters, says Agriculture and Food Security Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu.
He added that the amendments aimed to increase the punishment for offenders, although the increased penalties will still be lower than those in the regulations in Indonesia and Thailand.
Mohamad said that among the other amendments is control on certain types of nets and equipment that will destroy sea life.
“The amended Act will also protect live turtles from being sold and ensure that these animals do not go extinct,” he said after opening the National Fishermen’s Association (Nekmat) annual general meeting here yesterday.
He said the amendments will go through their first reading in the Dewan Rakyat next week.
Earlier in his speech, Mohamad said that the subsidised diesel will continue to be supplied for fishermen registered with Nekmat.
