Kuala Lumpur, Nov 8 – The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) is intensifying patrols to check maritime crime, including the abuse of the Malaysian fishing licence by foreign fishermen as well as the use of trawl nets.
MMEA Criminal Investigation Branch director First Admiral Datuk Zulkifili Abu Bakar said it was an offence for local fishermen to lease their fishing licence to foreigners as well as use the trawl net as this could destroy marine life.
Patrols were also carried out based on information obtained through the Sea Surveillance System (Swasla) which could detect suspicious activities, like the use of the trawl net, he told Bernama.
Zulkifili was commenting on a statement by Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Ministry Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob on the abuse of the fishing licence by local fishermen who leased it to foreign fishermen.
He said that between January and Oct 22 this year, a total of 23,181 inspections were conducted and resulted in 576 arrests for various maritime offences, including smuggling of cigarettes, controlled items and migrants, as well as piracy and encroachment by foreign fishing boats.
– Bernama
