MIRI: The Sarawak Marine Police Region 5 detained a fishing trawler and arrested five crew members for fishing less than seven nautical miles from the shore last Tuesday (Dec 10).
Miri police chief ACP Alexson Naga Chabu, said the vessel was intercepted around 11.50 am during an ‘Op Taring Pensura’ patrol.
“Upon inspection, the team found that the crew members had committed an offence by trawling within 6.245 nautical miles of the Tanjung Kuala Baram shore.
“This action contravened their fishing licence, which prohibits trawling within seven nautical miles of the shore. Four Indonesian and one local crew member were detained for further investigation,” he said.
Also seized in the operation was 50kg of various fish species, trawl boards, trawl nets, other fishing equipment, and the vessel itself.
He said the crew members and seized items have been handed over to the Miri Fisheries for further investigation.
Alexson added that the case is being investigated under the Fisheries Act 1985.
