Selangor MMEA Detains Four Myanmar Nationals For Violating Fishing Licence Conditions

SHAH ALAM, May 29 (Bernama) -- The Selangor branch of the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) detained a local fishing vessel (VNT) and four Myanmar nationals for allegedly violating fishing licence conditions in the state’s waters yesterday. 

Its director, Maritime Captain Abdul Muhaimin Muhammad Salleh said the VNT was detained by an MMEA boat conducting routine patrols at a position 15.3 nautical miles southwest of Pulau Tengah at 5.30 pm.

He said an inspection found that the vessel was operated by four  Myanmar crew members, including the skipper, all aged between 25 and 46, who failed to produce valid work permits or authorisation letters.

“Further checks found that the skipper and one crew member had identification documents, while the other two crew members failed to produce any valid identification documents.

“Information from the Fisheries Department’s Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) also found that the vessel had entered areas outside Malaysian fishing waters without the permission of the Department of Fisheries Malaysia director-general,” he said in a statement today.

Abdul Muhaimin said they also seized an estimated 500 kilogrammes of fish catch, adding that the case is being investigated under the Fisheries Act 1985 for breaching licence conditions, including employing foreign workers without permission from the Department of Fisheries Malaysia director-general and operating outside authorised fishing areas.

The case is also being investigated under the Immigration Act 1959/63 after two crew members were found without valid identification documents, he said.

-- BERNAMA