29 detained by fisheries department for various offences

PETALING JAYA: Fisheries Department enforcers detained 29 suspects in an operation in Selangor waters from Aug 16 to 19.
The Department said in a statement today that it received complaints from fisherman in the state, with trawling being the biggest issue among them.
"The operation was conducted as part of our efforts to address the complaints of fishermen and protect the fishing resources of the country from activities which contravene the Fisheries Act," the statement read.
Of the 29 caught, 14 are Malaysians, nine are Indonesians, and six are from Myanmar.
They were found committing 13 offences including trespassing traditional fishing zones, using foreigners as crew members, and attempts to destroy evidence.
The Department said the offenders will be fined between RM500 to RM20,000 for the offences, have their licenses suspended or revoked, or charged in court.
The operation involved four Department patrol boats and 49 enforcement officers from the Malacca, Kuala Kurau, Kampung Acheh, and Port Klang bases.
Trawling is a fishing method where a fishing vessel drags a large, heavy net behind it which indiscriminately traps anything unfortunate enough to be in its path.
The method is known for causing severe environmental damage as it stirs up the sea floor, damaging or dislodging any corals in its path, and fish from all states of maturity will be caught, hampering re-population.