The authorities have confiscated a boat that was being used for fish-bombing activities near Pulau Omadal in Semporna waters. The director of the Semporna zone Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA), Maritime Commander Amir Shubli, stated that a patrol boat was conducting its rounds as part of Ops Pluto Timur when they received intelligence regarding the illegal activity. They arrived at the location at 8.50am on Tuesday (Sept 19).
Upon arrival, the team of the patrol boat traced the suspicious boat to the west of the island. However, the skipper of the boat fled by jumping into the sea and managed to escape to shallow waters around Pulau Omadal when the patrol team approached. An inspection of the boat uncovered some fish and glass bottles containing fertilizer, which are believed to have been used for fish-bombing. The total value of the confiscated items is estimated to be RM5,000. The case will be investigated under Section 26 of the Fisheries Act 1985, which pertains to fishing with explosives, poison, etc., according to Amir’s statement.
In light of this incident, Amir reminded the maritime communities to refrain from conducting fish-bombing, emphasizing that it is illegal and can have a negative impact on the sea ecosystem. He also highlighted the dangers associated with this activity. He expressed the commitment of their team to continue patrolling and enforcing the law in order to curb criminal offenses at sea. Individuals with relevant information can report them to 089-782 619 or MERS999, he added.
Credit: The Star : News Feed
