BINTULU: The local Marine Police detained a fishing vessel and arrested four crew members on Monday (Nov 8) on suspicion of violating the legal conditions of their licence.
Sarawak Marine Police Region Five commander ACP Zulfikar Mohd Ghazali, who confirmed the case, said the SF1 trawler fishing vessel was spotted fishing about 9.8 nautical miles off Pantai Kuala Tatau.
A Marine PSC56 patrol boat conducting ‘Op Benteng’ in the area, later detained the boat for inspection.
It was found that the vessel, operated by a local man and three Indonesian crew members, was believed to be illegally fishing in an area not according to the conditions in their licence.
Zulfikar noted that the crew and vessel were escorted to Bintulu Marine Police headquarters and handed over to Bintulu Fisheries Department for further action.
