MMEA studying legal aspect of foreign fishermen hired by Malaysians selling catch to foreigners (Updated)

PASIR PUTEH: The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) is studying the legal aspect of foreign fishermen who took advantage of working in the country by selling their catch to fishermen from neighbouring countries.
MMEA deputy director-general (operation) Rear Admiral Datuk Mohd Taha Ibrahim said the agency had made several arrests involving the case, but the fishermen could not be charged as the transaction was done outside Malaysia's territorial waters.
"When it happens outside our territorial waters, technically, we cannot prosecute and have to release the foreign fishermen.
"However, this issue will be addressed as soon as possible and we are looking at the legal aspects to charge the foreign fishermen involved," he told reporters after the burning of the disposal of old vessel at Tok Bali here today.
Also present were Kelantan MMEA director Captain Nurul Hizam and Kelantan Department of Environment (DOE) director Hamzah Mohamad.
A newspaper reported today on the presence of foreign fishermen who are hired by Malaysian fishing operators selling their quality catch to fishermen from their homeland in the open seas outside Malaysian territorial waters.
As a result, the Malaysian fishing boat returned with poor quality catch, resulting in the Malaysian fishing operators to suffer losses.
On today's programme, Mohd Taha said two foreign fishing boats were disposed off by setting them ablaze at 7.9 nautical miles of Tok Bali here.
It was the first involving foreign fishing boats, he said, adding that it was held to send a message to the society that the government was serious in addressing the issue on foreign fishermen encroaching into the country's territorial waters to carry out their fishing activities. — Bernama