A total of 81 fish traps, known as bubu naga, and a boat worth RM15,000 were confiscated in a joint operation conducted at Pantai Bagan Tengkorak in Tanjung Karang, Selangor. The Selangor Fisheries Department (DOF) and marine police seized an abandoned boat suspected to be used for placing the traps. According to Noraisyah Abu Bakar, the director of Selangor DOF, the boat operators managed to escape into the nearby mangrove swamps upon spotting the enforcement personnel. The operation was initiated in response to public complaints regarding illegal activities by local fishermen along the shoreline. Noraisyah emphasized that the use of bubu naga is a violation of Section 11(3)(c) of the Fisheries Act 1985, and compliance with the law is essential for food security and a continuous fish supply for consumers. Bubu naga harm the food chain as they capture marine animals of varying sizes and maturity, which disrupts the ecosystem. These traps are usually placed 0.5 to 5 nautical miles from the estuary where fish, prawns, and crabs live and reproduce. They are set during high tide and collected during low tide. Noraisyah also revealed that bubu naga of different sizes are being sold on online platforms, with prices ranging from RM50 to RM60 per unit. She warned that many individuals purchase these traps in bulk online, thinking they can avoid detection by authorities. DOF plans to conduct more operations to apprehend fishermen involved in these illegal activities along Selangor’s shoreline. Earlier this year, DOF seized 715 bubu naga worth RM43,000 during an operation involving 18 jetties at Bagan Tengkorak and Sungai Besar in Sabak Bernam.
Credit: The Star : Metro Feed
