GEORGE TOWN: The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) has detained seven fishermen for using modified nets (pukat lohong) to catch fish.
The fishermen have been detained along with their boat at 0.2 nautical miles northeast of Tanjung Bungah on Monday (Jan 31) at about 12.40am.
State MMEA director Kapt Abd Razak Mohamed mentioned the boat was detained when the boat crew have been using pukat lohong which was outlawed by the Fisheries Department.
“The boat which was primarily based at Bakau Tua in Penaga was carried out by seven crew aged between 18 and 24,” he mentioned in a press release.
Kapt Abd Razak mentioned the crew and their boat have been delivered to the state maritime headquarters for additional investigation.
He mentioned the case can be investigated underneath Fishery Act 1985 for using unlicensed fishing gear.
He suggested the fisherman group to adjust to the principles to catch fish in keeping with their license in order that they might not go in opposition to the present guidelines.
“For complaints of maritime offences at sea or emergencies, the general public can name our hotline at 04-262 6146 or MERS 999,” he added.
