GEORGE TOWN, April 22 (Bernama) -- The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) today seized about one ton of fish from four Thai nationals after they were suspected of fishing less than the permitted distance from the coast.
Penang MMEA director Capt Hamizan Harun said they were detained in a class C fishing boat that was allowed to fish at a distance of not less than 12 nautical miles (about 22.2km) from the coast.
The boat was intercepted by the agency’s patrol boat at 7.7 nautical miles (14.26km) southwest of Pulau Kendi near here.
“The boat was detained at about 12.30 pm and inspection also found that the fishermen, aged between 47 and 51 years, had breached the legal requirements of their licence which is an offence under Section 8 (b) of the Fisheries Act 1985,” he said.
He said the seized boat with the catch and two trawl nets were taken to the Batu Uban Marine Police Base Jetty for further investigation.
