Fish bombs land fishermen in troubled waters
MIRI: A local fishing boat caught using unlicensed ‘bubu’ fish traps and fish bombs was detained by the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) here last night (June 1). The boat was detained at about 20 nautical miles west of Kuala Niah in Miri waters, at 8.30pm. MMEA Miri director Captain Md Fauzi Othman said the boat was operated by three crew members, namely two locals, including the skipper and an Indonesian man complete with identification documents. “The fishing boat was found in a suspicious condition as it was moving in the dark and was suspected of carrying out prohibited fishing activities. “Following an inspection it was found that the crew had used unlicensed ‘bubu’ fish traps and after interrogation it was found that fish bombs were also used,” he said today. All crew members, the fishing boat and its 900kg of catches, were detained and escorted to a vessel detention centre in Kampung Pulau Melayu, here for further investigation. “The case will be investigated under the Fisheries Act 1985,” he added. Any complaints and information regarding suspicious activities at sea can be forwarded to the MMEA Miri Maritime Zone operations centre at 085-418204 or the MMEA Sarawak operations centre at 082-432544.
