TANJUNG MANIS: The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) here detained a fishing boat and arrested three crewmen for violating the legal conditions of their fishing licence by using a trawl last Friday (May 12).
MMEA Tanjung Manis director Commander Gilbert Tinggak Numpang said the detention was made around 1.40pm, some 3.5 nautical miles northwest of Pantai Alit, Kabong.
Prior to that, the MMEA Tanjung Manis operations centre had received complaints that fishing boats were using unauthorised equipment during their fishing activities in the said area.
“Soon after receiving the complaints, our assets were deployed to the scene and detected a class A local boat carrying out their fishing activity in a suspicious condition by using a trawl.
“Inspections found that the boat, manned by three crewmen aged 21 and 59, was in violation of the legal conditions of the licence by carrying out fishing activities using unauthorised equipment.
“The crew, together with the boat and fishing equipment, were escorted to Tanjung Manis Terminal Jetty for further investigation under the Fisheries Act 1985,” he said.
Meanwhile, in another incident on the same day, the agency detained a cargo ship around 11.15am, some 2.8 nautical miles southeast of Tanjung Sedi, Daro.
Gilbert stated that the ship was manned by six crewmen, comprising five foreigners and a local, who failed to produce any documents during inspection.
The crew, aged between 21 and 67, as well as the cargo ship, were escorted to Tanjung Manis Terminal Jetty for further investigation under the Merchant Shipping Ordinance 1952.
The maritime community is encouraged to channel information and complaints pertaining to suspicious activity or emergencies at sea to the MMEA Tanjung Manis Operations Centre at 010-5063293 and the MMEA Sarawak Operations Centre at 082-432544.
