Kota Kinabalu: THE State Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Industry Ministry is getting tough on those using explosives and illegal fishing nets, with five arrests recorded in December alone.
“We are taking this very seriously. Our coral reefs are being blown up and fish numbers are dropping because of these harmful methods,” said its Minister Datuk Jamawi Jaafar.
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“We are fully aware of this issue. I was briefed by the Fisheries Department and we have activated enforcement at the officer level to remain in the field,” he said in response to a Reef Check report documenting extensive coral reef destruction caused by fish bombing in Sabah waters.
Jamawi said he had instructed the Fisheries Department patrol boats to go out as often as possible to curb these crimes.
He added that illegal coastal trawling is hitting small-time fishermen in Papar and Sipitang particularly hard.
“This is destroying our ocean environment from the ground up and we have to act,” Jamawi said.
Asked about falling fish numbers, he admitted stocks are going down but promised tougher enforcement.
“Yes, fish are declining, but we will not give up. We will keep stepping up our patrols and regulations,” he said.
On a separate matter, Jamawi thanked party leaders for his appointment as Ex-Officio of PKR’s Central Leadership Council, saying it will help him push for more money and support for farmers and fishermen at the national level.
He said he will be attending the PKR congress in Melaka on June 25 and that he will work with Sabah PKR Chief Datuk Mustapha Sakmud.
