SARIKEI: Two foreign fishing vessels were ordered to turn back after being detected entering the state’s waters about 75.1 nautical miles northwest of Tanjung Sirik last Wednesday.
Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) Sarawak director Zin Azman Md Yunus said the vessels were detected around 8am during ‘Ops Benteng’ and ‘Ops Khas Kuda Laut’ patrols along the Malaysia-Indonesia border.
He said four Indonesian crew members of the fishing boats did not have any valid identity documents.
“Both fishing vessels were found with nets and various types of fish weighing 200kg.
“The Indonesians along with their fishing vessels were ordered to turn back from the country’s waters,” he said.
Zin stated the action to expel the vessels was done to curb the Covid-19 spread in view of the current pandemic situation.
He urged the maritime community to work with enforcement agencies in combating any criminal activity at sea.
