KOTA KINABALU: Two Filipino fishermen were detained for using lamps underwater to attract fish, an illegal means to trawl, along the coasts of Tanjung Melanim near here.
The men, aged 19 and 54, were detained by the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) during a patrol operation around 4pm on Sunday.
Sabah MMEA director First Admiral Mohd Khairulanuar Abd Majid @ Razali said the use of such lamps on the seabeds could destroy the marine ecosystem.
“Using lamps underwater can attract fish and other marine species on an uncontrolled scale, resulting in an imbalance in the marine ecosystem,” he said, adding that this could affect ongoing conservation and rehabilitation works.
Such damage would eventually affect the livelihood of other honest law-abiding fishermen, said Khairulanuar.
He said that prior to the arrest and seizure of the vessel, they had noticed the boat and approached it to check.
“On board, we found the two crew members with suspicious documentation and discovered the illegal fishing method used,” he added.
Khairulanuar urged the fishing community to abide by marine and environmental laws to ensure the industry remains sustainable.
“We will continue to monitor and safeguard Sabah’s seafronts and prevent crime at sea,” he said, adding that there will be no compromise on this matter.
He also called upon coastal communities and the public to work with the authorities in fighting crime at sea by reporting any suspicious activities to the Sabah and Labuan Maritime Operations Centre at 088-387 774 or the 999 emergency number.
