SANDAKAN: Four boats suspected of breaching fishing licence conditions and carrying goods without valid permits were seized in separate incidents in Sandakan and Tawau waters on Wednesday and Thursday.
According to Sandakan Maritime Zone Director, Maritime Captain Muhamad Suhairy Hussain, the first of two vessels in Sandakan was detained at around 12.39am after it was spotted trawling approximately 1.79 nautical miles from the nearest shoreline.
The boat was operated by four Indonesian fishermen aged between 25 and 52.
A second vessel was apprehended at around 12.46am in a nearby location for the same offence. It was operated by a crew of three fishermen – one Malaysian, one Indonesian, and one Filipino – aged between 24 and 36.
“Further inspection revealed that both vessels had violated the conditions of their fishing licences under Section 8(b) of the Fisheries Act 1985 by trawling within 12 nautical miles of the coast,” said Muhamad Suhairy.
Both vessels, along with the seven detained crew members and an estimated three tonnes of catch valued at RM312,000, were brought to the Sandakan Maritime Zone Jetty for further investigation.
Muhamad Suhairy emphasised that Maritim Malaysia would continue its patrols and enforcement operations to tackle violations of maritime laws in national waters.
Members of the public with information on maritime crimes are encouraged to contact the Sandakan Maritime Zone Operations Centre or call the emergency hotline at 999.
Meanwhile, in TAWAU, two boats were seized on Thursday for breaching fishing licence conditions and carrying goods without proper permits.
The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (Maritim Malaysia) Tawau Zone made the arrests during coordinated operations, including “Op Sejahtera,” “Op Pluto Timur,” and “Op Tiris.”
Its Director, Captain Ariffin Ghazali, said the first vessel, detained at 2am, was a local fishing boat trawling less than two nautical miles from shore, about 1.7 nautical miles south of Batu 3.
Although the four Indonesian crew members, aged between 34 and 44, had valid identification and fishing licences, further inspection revealed the boat was in violation of licence conditions by fishing within prohibited waters.
He said, less than an hour later, enforcement officers seized a cargo boat carrying 12 filled liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) cylinders without a permit, approximately 2.1 nautical miles south of Mile 3.
The 27-year-old local skipper failed to produce the necessary permit for the LPG cylinders, and it was discovered that his name was not listed in the boat’s licence register, an additional breach of regulations.
The total value of the seized boats, engines, and cargo was estimated at nearly RM85,000. All individuals, along with the vessels and cargo, were brought to the Tawau Maritime Zone Jetty for further investigation under the Fisheries Act 1985, the Control of Supplies Act 1961, and the Sabah Ports and Harbours Department Enactment 2002.
Ariffin said that Maritim Malaysia would continue to crack down on maritime law violations, especially with the festive season approaching.
Public cooperation in reporting maritime crimes is encouraged, with the Tawau Maritime Zone Operations Centre reachable at 089-750116 or through the emergency hotline at 999.
