MMEA confiscates 200kg fish, explosive items near Pulau Gaya

 

The seized 200 kilogrammes of fish. -- Pix courtesy of MMEA

KOTA KINABALU: The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) seized 200 kilogrammes of fish believed to have been caught using underwater explosives near Pulau Gaya here, yesterday.

In the 5.50pm incident, MMEA personnel spotted a pump boat with four individuals on board while patrolling under Ops Sejahtera and Ops Naga Timur.

Sabah and Labuan MMEA director First Admiral Datuk Mohd Rosli Abdullah said the individuals were believed to have carried out fish bombing about 92 metres away from Pulau Gaya.

"Noticing the presence of the patrol, the four individuals jumped into the sea and swam towards a nearby beach.

"Inspections on the pump boat that had no registration number revealed about 200 kilogrammes of fish and explosive items probably used to catch the fish," he said.

All of the items seized were taken to the Sepanggara maritime jetty and handed over to the investigating officer for investigations under Section 26 of the Fisheries Act 1985 for fishing using explosives.

Meanwhile in Tawau, an MMEA enforcement team had detained four individuals and four local boats for violating license terms in an operation on Feb 1.

The boats had been registered as passenger boats but the license was misused to transport cargo.

Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) seized 200kg of fish believed to have been caught using underwater explosives near Pulau Gaya here. -- Pix courtesy of MMEA

The boats were heading to Pulau Sebatik when enforcement teams stopped the skippers. The skippers and boats were taken to the district maritime jetty for further investigations.

According to Tawau MMEA director Siva Kumar Vengadasalam, a total 4,910 sea inspections were carried out in the district's waters throughout last year.

Of that, 32 arrests were recorded, 13 of which were related to offences that violated the Sabah Port and Wharf Department Enactment, while others involved the misuse of licences.

Siva Kumar said misuse of boat licences was a common offence in Tawau waters.

He said boats that were licensed to carry passengers or for fishing were used to transport goods to the islands.

"There were also attempts to smuggle goods to neighbouring countries. Based on our surveillance and inspections, the offenders carry loads exceeding the limit which can cause accidents such as boats capsizing or collisions," he said. - NST