JOHOR BAHRU, July 16 (Bernama) -- The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) detained a local fishing vessel and five crew members after it was found operating outside the designated fishing zone, 4.5 nautical miles southeast of Pulau Tinggi, Mersing, yesterday.
Mersing Maritime Zone director Commander Maritime Suhaizan Saadin said the agency launched a patrol after receiving a public tip-off about a suspicious vessel spotted in the restricted area.
“Investigations found that the vessel had not only violated the designated fishing zone regulation (fishing activities are prohibited within five nautical miles from shore), but also was operating outside the permitted hours.
“It was also operated by someone other than the registered owner, which constitutes a clear violation under the Fisheries Act 1983,” he said in a statement today.
He stated that the five local fishermen, aged between 34 and 50, were detained to assist in the investigation, adding that the vessel had been seized and towed to the Teluk Gading maritime post for further action.
He also urged the fishing community to comply with the regulations and report any dubious actions via the emergency hotline 999 or the Mersing Maritime Zone Operations Centre at 07-2199404.
-- BERNAMA
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