Op Naga: 598 Foreign Fishing Vessels Detained From May 2019 To September 2024

PUTRAJAYA, Oct 17 (Bernama) -- A total of 598 foreign fishing vessels were detained under Op Naga, a multi-agency operation aimed at curbing the incursion of foreign fishing boats and safeguarding the nation's marine resources, from May 2019 to September this year.

MMEA director-general, Maritime Rear Admiral Datuk Mohd Rosli Abdullah, said that, during this period, the total recorded value of the catch exceeded RM209 million.

He noted that 75 per cent of the arrests involved 451 Vietnamese fishing vessels, with 4,391 crew members apprehended, resulting in seizures valued at over RM190 million.

“The threat of illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing activities must be addressed, with the cooperation of all parties, including security forces and the local maritime community.

“If left unchecked, these activities will disrupt the marine ecosystem's habitat, jeopardising the reproduction of fish fry, and ultimately impacting the livelihoods of local fishermen,” he said, in a statement today.

Mohd Rosli expressed hope that cooperation to ensure the success of Op Naga can be further strengthened, to maintain national sovereignty and safeguard the country’s economic resources.

Op Naga is an integrated operation, coordinated by the MMEA, involving collaboration with the Royal Malaysian Navy, Royal Malaysian Air Force, Royal Malaysia Police, Royal Malaysian Customs Department and the Department of Fisheries.

Additionally, the operation has garnered support from the Malaysia Marine Department, the Department of Immigration, the Sabah Ports and Harbours Department, the Fisheries Development Authority of Malaysia, the Enforcement Division of the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living, and the Sabah Fisheries Department.

-- BERNAMA