‘Foreigners harmed marine habitat’
Ruben Sario The Star 2 Jul 13;
KOTA KINABALU: Foreigners are being blamed for two of the most destructive fishing activities in Sabah – fish bombing and the use of cyanide – both harming coral reefs and other marine habitat, the Royal Commission of Inquiry on illegal immigrants was told.
Sabah Fisheries Department Mohd Yusoff Anthony Abdullah said 209 foreigners were charged in court for fishing using these destructive methods between 1999 and 2012.
When pointed out by Conducting Officer Manoj Kurup that the figure was slightly more than the 148 people with Malaysian identity cards charged for similar offences during the same period, Yusoff said: “We have to take it they are locals, we cannot tell the validity of their documents.”
He said the most frequent locations of fish bombing were waters near Pulau Mengalum and Pulau Mantanani – some of the richest fishing grounds off Sabah’s west coast – and near the internationally renowned diving havens of Pulau Sipadan and Pulau Mabul in the state’s east coast.
Yusoff said an explosive comprising a bottle filled with fertiliser and detonator typically cost about RM10 and the “returns” for the offender could be as much as several hundred kilogrammes of fish.
He said the bombed fish usually comprise the yellow tail fusilier or ikan sulit and white shouldered whiptail or ikan anjang anjang as well as ikan putih or travalley.
Yusoff said cyanide was squirted to stun highly prized marine creatures, such as grouper fish and lobsters, which were meant for export.
He said his unit was proposing to amend the state’s fisheries laws to provide for stiffer penalties against illegal fishing offenders – such as just being in possession of bombed or poisoned fish will be sufficient for a conviction – as current legislation requires the authorities to prove that offenders knew they had such contraband in their possession.
Currently, those convicted of such offences could face jail of up to 18 months or a RM10,000 fine.
Meanwhile, a construction supervisor told the commission that the industry in Sabah could be crippled in the absence of foreign workers whom he described as more hard working, disciplined, had better skills and lasted longer in their jobs than locals.
Shak Choon Hau said employers also preferred to hire foreigners who were willing to do the same work at lower wages compared to locals.
