Latest news with #FisheriesAct1985
Daily Express
6 days ago
- Daily Express
Fishing too close to shore: Vessel and crew seized
Fishing too close to shore: Vessel and crew seized Kota Kinabalu: A fishing vessel operating too close to shore was seized for breaching maritime regulations, along with its catch of almost a tonne. Sabah Maritime Director First Adm Mohd Khairulanuar Abd Majid @ Razali said its captain and five crew members, all Indonesians, were also detained by the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA). Advertisement He said in the June 2 (Monday) raid, MMEA personnel were conducting patrols when they saw the vessel operating close to Tanjung Tembungo, near here. 'Our team went to investigate and found that the vessel was fishing just about one nautical mile (1.85km) from shore, which is illegal,' he said, Wednesday. SPONSORED CONTENT Khairulanuar said the suspects were detained while the vessel and its catch, worth an estimated RM45,000, were confiscated and brought back to base for investigations under the Fisheries Act 1985. He said fishing too close to shore disrupted the livelihood of local fishermen and threatened marine ecosystems by destroying corals and the seabed. Advertisement He said the MMEA would step up patrols and anti-crime operations at sea. He urged the public to report any suspicious activities at sea to the Sabah Maritime direct line at 088-270165, or the 999 emergency number.
Borneo Post
6 days ago
- General
- Borneo Post
MMEA detains fishing boat for illegal trawling off KK
The six Indonesian crewmen detained by MMEA for license violations. KOTA KINABALU (June 4): A local fishing boat was detained by the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) for violating its license by engaging in illegal trawling activities under the Fisheries Act. MMEA Sabah and Labuan Director, Maritime First Admiral Mohd Khairulanuar Abd Majid @ Razali, said the vessel was detected during a routine patrol operation with assistance from the Sabah Maritime Surveillance System (SWASLA) station. The boat, manned by a skipper and five crew members — all Indonesians — was found operating about one nautical mile northwest of Tanjung Tembungo. Khairulanuar said the boat had breached license terms under Section 8(b) of the Fisheries Act 1985 by conducting fishing activities in prohibited waters. 'The entire crew, along with one tonne of mixed fish, was detained. The total value of the seizure, including the catch and the vessel, is estimated at RM45,000,' he said in a statement on Wednesday. He emphasized that using the side-towing method within a three-nautical-mile radius not only breaks the law but severely impacts the marine ecosystem. 'This method destroys natural habitats, disrupts fish breeding cycles, and significantly affects the livelihoods of traditional coastal fishermen,' he said. Khairulanuar added that the MMEA would continue to enhance patrols and surveillance in key areas through the SWASLA system and strategic maritime operations. The public is urged to report any suspicious or illegal fishing activities to the MMEA Operations Centre at 088-270165 or via the emergency line 999.
The Star
7 days ago
- General
- The Star
Vessel seized, crew held in Sabah for fishing too close to shore
KOTA KINABALU: A fishing vessel operating too close to shore has been seized for breaching maritime regulations, along with its catch of almost a tonne. Its captain and five crew members, all Indonesians, were also detained by the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA), said Sabah Maritime director First Adm Mohd Khairulanuar Abd Majid @ Razali. He said in the Monday (June 2) raid, MMEA personnel were conducting patrols when they saw the vessel operating close to Tanjung Tembungo near here. 'Our team went to investigate and found that the vessel was fishing just about one nautical mile (1.85km) from shore, which is illegal,' he said on Wednesday (June 4). First Adm Khairulanuar said the suspects were detained while the vessel and its catch, worth an estimated RM45,000 in total, were confiscated and brought back to base for investigations under the Fisheries Act 1985. He said fishing too close to shore disrupted the livelihood of local fishermen and threatened marine ecosystems by destroying corals and the seabed. He said the MMEA would step up patrols and anti-crime operations at sea. He urged the public to report any suspicious activities at sea to the Sabah Maritime direct line at 088-270165, or the 999 emergency number.
The Sun
28-05-2025
- General
- The Sun
DOF steps up dugong conservation to prevent extinction
PUTRAJAYA: The Department of Fisheries (DOF) is stepping up efforts to conserve dugongs, encompassing the protection of critical habitats, population monitoring, and cooperation with various parties including local communities. In a statement issued in conjunction with World Dugong Day today, DOF said that it continues to undertake integrated efforts towards the conservation of endangered marine species such as the dugong (Dugong dugon), which is now facing the risk of extinction. 'As herbivorous marine mammals that depend entirely on the seagrass ecosystem, the survival of dugongs reflects the health of the country's marine environment,' the department said. The dugong is the only surviving species in the family Dugongidae and is fully protected under Malaysian law, including Section 27 of the Fisheries Act 1985, the Fisheries (Control of Endangered Fish Species) (Amendment) Regulations 2019, and wildlife legislation in Sabah and Sarawak. This species is listed in Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) and categorised as 'Vulnerable to Extinction' by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), making conservation efforts an urgent necessity. DOF stated that among the latest conservation initiatives underway is the proposed gazettement of a Dugong Sanctuary in Johor, covering an area of 150,000 hectares. 'This gazettement is expected to strengthen the protection of critical habitats and support long-term research and monitoring,' the statement read. DOF said that dugong populations in Malaysia are concentrated in several areas such as the waters around Pulau Sibu, Pulau Tinggi, and Pulau Besar in Johor, as well as in Sabah and Sarawak. 'The primary habitat of dugongs is shallow seagrass areas, which are also important ecosystems for various other marine species such as seahorses, sea cucumbers, and juvenile fish. However, these areas are increasingly under threat due to coastal development, land reclamation, pollution, and unsustainable fishing activities,' the statement noted. According to DOF, in collaboration with Yayasan PETRONAS, it is currently carrying out seagrass distribution mapping nationwide, including assessments of the carbon stock of these habitats. 'Seagrass is not only crucial as the main food source for dugongs, but also plays a role in climate change mitigation through its carbon absorption capacity,' the statement added.
The Star
24-05-2025
- The Star
Pahang MMEA detains fishing vessel, 21 foreign crew members
KUANTAN: A local fishing vessel and 21 foreign crew members were detained on suspicion of violating the terms of their licence under Ops Makmur and Ops Tiris about 7.5 nautical miles northwest of Pulau Tioman on Thursday (May 22). Malaysia Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) of Pahang director First Admiral (Maritime) Mazlan Mat Rejab said the class C2 vessel and all the foreign crew members, including the tekong, aged from 20 to 57, were detained by a patrol ship at about 9.40 am. 'Upon inspection, the vessel is believed to have violated the terms of its licence by hiring foreign workers with valid work permits, while the crew members were found to possess questionable identification documents," he said in a statement on Saturday (May 24). He said they also seized the fishing equipment, relevant documents and their catch, which weighed an estimated seven tonnes. He added that the vessel and crew members were taken to the Teluk Gading Maritime Post Jetty in Rompin, and the case is being investigated under the Fisheries Act 1985 and Immigration Act 1959/63. – Bernama
