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Kota Kinabalu: NO perpetrators who poison rivers to catch prawns in Sabah have been brought to court in recent years, said State Assistant Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Industry Minister Peto Galim.

“What the Ministry has received so far were only verbal complaints. 

“The perpetrators are not only cunning but also able to quickly dispose of evidence,” he said in response to a supplementary question from Bongawan assemblyman Dr Daud Yusof. 

However, he assured that the Ministry will continue to conduct consistent monitoring.

Earlier, Peto said the Sabah Fisheries Department had taken several measures to combat river poisoning activities.

“These include enforcement activities under the Sabah Inland Fisheries and Aquaculture Enactment 2003 (Epdas 2003) since April 1, 2019, in river water areas in Sabah.

“This includes capturing, investigating and prosecuting offences involving various types of poisons, explosives, electricity, or illegal drugs in public water areas or rivers.

“It is stipulated in Section 25 Subsection (1) (Epdas 2003) and can be punishable under the same section, namely Section 25 Subsection (2), with a fine of up to RM50,000 or imprisonment of up to two years, or both.”

Furthermore, he said awareness campaigns and dialogues with fishermen and farmers were conducted by the Sabah Fisheries Department to protect public water areas, especially rivers in Sabah, to maintain the sustainability of fisheries resources.

“In 2023, a total of four dialogue sessions and campaigns were held through the Interaction with Fishermen programme in Sabah.

“In addition, the Department also established community fish Tagal (sanctuaries) with the involvement of rural communities to preserve rivers and river fisheries resources, to help reduce the issue of illegal fishing using prohibited equipment,” he said.

So far, he said, a total of 628 fish Tagal have been established in 227 rivers in Sabah.