Six fishing vessels detained for illegal trawling

KOTA TINGGI: Six local fishing vessels were detained off Tan­jung Sedili here for illegal trawling.
Capt Amran Daud, Tanjung Sedili enforcement chief of Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) said, three Class B and Class C fishing vessels were caught by the Malay­sian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) in an area between Kuala Sedili and Endau between 11pm, Saturday to 2am, Aug 20.
About 20 crews members including its skippers, four Indonesian crew members with working permits and their fishing vessels were spotted using the drag net fishing method within 10 nautical miles from the coastline.
"It is an offence for the trawlers to do drag net fishing within 12 nautical miles from the coastline under Section 8 of Fisheries Act 1985," he said.
The detainees and vessels were towed to the Tanjung Sedili MMEA jetty, and referred to the Sedili fisheries department for further investigation.