Selangor MMEA Detains Two Boats, 11 Foreigners For Violating Fishing Licence

SHAH ALAM, Nov 22 (Bernama) -- The Selangor Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) arrested two Class-C local fishing boats and 11 foreign crew members for violating conditions of their licences around the waters off Tanjung Sauh, Sabak Bernama, yesterday.

Selangor Maritime Director, Maritime Captain Abdul Muhaimin Muhammad Salleh said the boat and the foreign crew were detained while they were busy fishing about 15 nautical miles from the mainland.

He said the first boat with a tekong and five Myanmar crew members was detained at around 3.35pm, while the second boat operated by a tekong and four crew members, also Myanmar nationals, was detained about two hours later about 10.5 nautical miles southwest of Tanjung Sauh.

"Further inspection found that both vessels were registered in Perak, and all crew members failed to produce identification documents as well as valid work permits or permission letters from the Director-General of Fisheries Malaysia when requested.

"The two vessels and all crew members aged between 19 and 40, were taken to the Marine Police Force Jetty, Pulau Indah, Klang before being handed over to the Malaysian Maritime Investigation Officer for further action," he said in a statement here today.

Abdul Muhaimin said the case was being investigated under the Fisheries Act 1985 for violating the conditions of a licence to fish less than 15 nautical miles from the coast and outside the waters of Perak as well as the Immigration Act 1959/63 for not having a valid identity document.

-- BERNAMA