KUCHING: The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) detained two Vietnamese fishing boats and skipper and 19 crew in an operation on Sept 30.
Kuching MMEA director Shahref Steve Mac Queen Abdullah said the boats were intercepted at 10.40am about 150 nautical miles off Tanjong Po near here before being brought to the Tun Abang Salahuddin Maritime Complex jetty at Muara Tebas.
In a statement yesterday, he said the skipper and crew were being investigated under the Fisheries Act 1985.
“If found guilty, the boats and fishing equipment would be confiscated while the skipper can be imposed a fine of not more than one million ringgit and the crew, RM100,000 each or imprisonment,” he said.
He said the public could channel information or lodge a report on any relevant illegal activities to Sarawak MMEA through its 24-hour hotline at 082-432544.
