Malaysia: Anger over use of banned fishing gear

New Straits Times 9 Mar 12;

The rampant use of destructive fishing gear banned by the authorities is threatening to devastate the marine eco-system in the coastal area, here.

Environmental activists have condemned the widespread use of rawa sorong or sodok nets among local fishermen which pose a serious threat to the environment and marine species.

Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM) president SM Mohamed Idris said the long bamboo poles, which are dragged along the coastal seabed or river, killed cockle spats, fish fry, crabs, juvenile prawns and other marine life.

He said the Fisheries Department had stopped issuing licences for rawa sorong nets to fishermen last year, but severalnon-governmental organisations had observed that the use of these banned nets continued to be widespread in Malaysian waters.

Idris said surveys and information gathered from local fishermen showed that some 40 rawa sorong net operators in Perak had been employing illegal immigrants from Myanmar and Thailand to carry out their operations.

He said these illegal operations also took place in Perlis, Kedah, Johor, Sabah, Sarawak and other states.

"SAM is calling for increased government enforcement to curb the use of these banned fishing gear.

"Integrated cooperation between the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency and the Department of Fisheries is required for more stringent action to be taken against those who carry out these illegal activities," Idris said.

He said it was not enough to just issue compounds or warnings to those who flouted the law.

"The boat and banned fishing gear must be confiscated and destroyed," he said.

Idris said the Agriculture and Agro-Based Industry Ministry and relevant authorities should take stern action against banned and destructive fishing gear such as Apollo nets in Kuala Kurau, siput retak seribu nets and other illegal trawl nets.

"These nets are destructive to the marine ecosystem and jeopardises the sustainability of fisheries resources in Malaysia," Idris added.

Meanwhile, Malaysian Coastal Fishermen's Welfare and Education Network (Jaring) chairman Jamaluddin Mohamad also urged the authorities to enforcement of the ban on the illegal use of rawa sorong nets.

The use of the nets infringe on provisions under the Fisheries Act 1984.