Another seizure of bombed fish
Published on: Saturday, September 05, 2015
Kota Kinabalu: Fish-bombing activity was again detected by the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) - this time off Pulau Sulug, with the seizure of 200kg of suspected bombed fish on Thursday. District Maritime Enforcement Chief Zin Azman Md Yunus, in a statement Friday, said a MMEA team patrolling the area detected a boat heading suspiciously towards the city from the island at about 11.40pm. "The boat suddenly sped off despite the team ordering it to stop, prompting a 15-minute chase which ended with the suspects jumping into the sea without stopping the boat," he said.
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He said the team continued to patrol the area in search of two suspected individuals but failed due to the darkness and sea condition, adding that inspections on the boat led to the discovery of 200kg of suspected bombed fish, adding that the seizure, including the boat, was estimated to be worth about RM50,000. The boat was brought to the MMEA jetty in Sepanggar Bay for further investigation under the Fisheries Act 1985 (1)(c), which carries up to RM20,000 fine or two years' jail, or both, on conviction. He said the case is also investigated under the Ports and Harbours (Sabah Licensed Small Ships) Regulations after the boat was found without a registration number and was not built according to designated specifications.It was reported on Tuesday that MMEA seized 100kg of suspected bombed fish off Gaya Island here.
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Zin Azman was quoted as saying that it was the third seizure in the past weeks and that they will continue to trace those involved in fish-bombing activities as such activity would only damage the sea ecosystem and habitat. Last month, several cases of suspected fish-bombing activities were detected.
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Among them involved the seizure of 710kg of suspected bombed fish at Pulau Gaya off Semporna during an operation conducted by the marine police. Two Bajau men, aged 20 and 25, were arrested and explosives believed to be for fish bombing were seized in the operation. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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