KEMAMAN: The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) detained two Vietnamese fishing boats fishing in the waters off Kemaman, yesterday morning.
Kemaman Maritime Zone director, Maritime Commander Rashidilhadi Abd Rashid said the two boats were detained at about 70 nautical miles from Kuala Kemaman, between 8.30 am and 9.15 am.
“The 13 crew members including a skipper, aged between 14 to 54 years, did not possess valid documents and failed to produce a valid permit from the Fisheries Department of Malaysia.
“All of them, also failed to exhibit valid work permits from the Immigration Department,” he said in a statement today.
Following the arrest, MMEA also seized about 40 kilogrammes of squids, two boats and fishing equipment worth RM600,000. Both the boats and the crew were taken to Kemaman MMEA jetty for further investigation,” he said.
He said the case was being investigated under the Fisheries Act 1985 which provides for a fine not exceeding RM1 million for the skipper and not exceeding RM100,000 for each crew member or a jail term not exceeding two years, upon conviction. — Bernama
