Kota Kinabalu: The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) detained a local fishing vessel for allegedly trawling in prohibited waters off Kota Kinabalu after it was detected by the Sabah Sea Surveillance System (Swasla).
Sabah and Labuan MMEA Director First Admiral Mohd Khairulanuar Abd Majid @ Razali said Swasla detected three suspicious targets operating less than three nautical miles from the shore off western Tanjung Tombongon before an enforcement team intercepted one of the vessels.
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He said the vessel was found towing a fishing net about 1.86 nautical miles from land, in breach of its fishing licence conditions, and was manned by seven crew members aged between 20 and 60, comprising a Malaysian, four Indonesians and two individuals carrying dubious identification documents.
The vessel, its seven crew, fishing equipment and catch were detained and escorted to the MMEA jetty for further investigation, with the total seizure estimated at RM450,000.
The case is being investigated under the Fisheries Act 1985 and the Immigration Act 1959/1963, while Mohd Khairulanuar said enforcement operations would continue to curb fisheries offences and other illegal activities in Sabah waters.
