MMEA Detains Two Illegal Trawler Vessels, With Seizures Worth Nearly RM5 Mln

IPOH, May 6 (Bernama) -- The Perak Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) detained two vessels and eight crew members, including five Myanmar nationals, in two separate operations around Pulau Pangkor waters, near Lumut, yesterday.

Its director, Maritime Captain Mohamad Shukri Khotob, said the first arrest involved a Class C trawler vessel that was detained around 7.34 am at a position 1.9 nautical miles (nm) southwest of Pulau Buloh.

"The inspection results found that the vessel was operated by five crew members from Myanmar, including the skipper who possessed a card from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

"The vessel involved was suspected of trespassing into a restricted zone, which is less than 12 nm from the shore, as well as conducting fishing activities in an unauthorised area," he said in a statement today.

According to him, the marine catch, estimated to weigh 400 kilogrammes (kg) of mixed fish, was also seized, with a total value estimated to exceed RM3 million.

Meanwhile, in another operation, Mohamad Shukri said another Class B trawler vessel was detained at around 12.40 pm at a position 5.7 nm west of Pulau Pangkor.

He said the inspection found that the vessel was suspected of violating the licence conditions under the Fisheries Act 1985.

"The vessel was operated by three crew members, including the skipper, all of whom were locals, and a mixed catch of fish, weighing approximately 100 kg, was also found. The total estimated value of the seizure is over RM1.5 million," he said.

In the meantime, he said that all crew members, vessels, fishing equipment, and marine catch from both cases have been brought to the Marine Police Force (PPM) jetty in Kampung Acheh and the Fisheries Development Authority of Malaysia (LKIM) jetty in Kampung Acheh for further action.

-- BERNAMA