KUALA NERUS: Two trawlers, one of them believed to be operated by Vietnamese fishermen, were detained by the Fisheries Department under Ops Naga enforcement in waters off Pulau Redang early Tuesday (June 9).
Fisheries director-general Datuk Adnan Hussain (pic) said the overnight operation, conducted between 11pm Monday (June 8) and 6am today, uncovered various breaches of licence conditions as well as offences under the Fisheries Act 1985.
He said the first vessel was detected carrying out trawling activities about eight nautical miles off Pulau Redang, within the 12-nautical-mile (22.22km) fishing prohibition zone around the island.
"Also detained was a Zone C trawler suspected of operating without a valid licence and manned by a skipper and four Vietnamese crew members,” he said in a statement.
Adnan said inspections uncovered several suspicious elements, including discrepancies between the vessel’s licensed identification photograph and its actual physical appearance.
According to him, the vessel was fitted with five additional oil tanks, with only one containing fuel and the remaining four empty, believed to be part of an evasive operational tactic.
Adnan said the department's enforcement officers also seized about 1.5 tonnes of various types of fish, estimated to be worth RM7,500.
He added that employing foreign skippers and crew members without permission, operating vessels without a valid licence, and restricted fishing zone violations were serious offences under the law.
Adnan said both vessels, together with the detained skippers and crew members, were brought to the Pulau Kambing Jetty here for further investigation.
He said the department would not compromise with any party attempting to manipulate or breaching the country’s fisheries laws
"The ongoing presence of enforcement assets at sea demonstrates the department's commitment to protecting marine resources and the rights of local fishermen," he said. – Bernama
