MMEA Detains Fishing Boat Over Licensing Violations Off Langkawi Coast

ALOR SETAR, June 19 (Bernama) -- The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) detained a local fishing boat near Langkawi yesterday morning during a routine patrol west of Tanjung Chinchin for allegedly breaching its operating licence.

Kedah/Perlis Maritime director, First Maritime Admiral Romli Mustafa, said the vessel was intercepted at around 11.40 am at 9.4 nautical miles west of Tanjung Chinchin during a joint sweep under Op Aman, Op Tiris 4.0, and Op Khas Tanjung 2.

He said the boat was manned by a skipper and three Thai crew members, aged between 32 and 52, adding that it was actively fishing when intercepted.

"Initial checks indicate that the vessel violated Section 8(b) of the Fisheries Act 1985 by fishing less than 15 nautical miles from shore, directly breaching its valid licensing conditions," he said in a statement today.

He said the seized vessel, gear, and catch are valued at an estimated RM320,000, adding that the detained crew and evidence were escorted to the Kedah/Perlis Maritime Headquarters jetty for investigation.

He urged members of the public with any information regarding maritime crime or emergencies to contact the 999 hotline or call the Kedah and Perlis Maritime Headquarters Operations Centre at 04-966 2750 for immediate action.

-- BERNAMA