Singapore-registered fishing vessel detained by Malaysian authorities

The vessel is alleged to have been fishing illegally in Malaysian waters.
Channel NewsAsia 29 May 15;

SINGAPORE: A Singapore-registered fishing vessel and its four crew members have been detained in Malaysia for alleged illegal fishing in its waters.

The Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority (AVA) on Thursday (May 28) confirmed the incident.

“We are aware that an AVA-licensed fishing vessel, SMF1195, has been detained by the Malaysian authorities,” an AVA spokesperson said, in response to queries from Channel 8 News.

“Singapore understands that the fishing vessel was in Singapore waters when it was first approached by the Malaysian authorities. Singapore has registered our concerns with Malaysia over this incident and is in contact with the Malaysian authorities.”

The vessel's owner, Lian Yak Fish Merchant, said the boat was about four nautical miles off Pedra Branca at 6am on Tuesday, when it was approached by a Malaysian patrol boat. The fishing vessel was later detained at Kota Tinggi in Johor.

Lian Yak Fish Merchant also said the three Malaysian officials had boarded the fishing vessel and told them to head towards Sedili in Kota Tinggi. “We arrived the next day, and the crew members were detained without bail,” the company said.

Lian Yak Fish Merchant added that the vessel was probably not in Malaysian waters, as it had been fishing in the area for more than 40 years, and even though it had misunderstandings previously, they were resolved.

“Our vessels are equipped with global positioning systems so their locations are clearly indicated. The crew wouldn’t enter Malaysian waters. They also recorded their position at that time, and they are very clear of where they are,” the company's business development manager explained.

The four crew members are foreigners between the ages of 36 and 62, and they are slated to appear in court next Tuesday, the firm added.

- CNA/fs

Singapore-registered vessel detained in Malaysia, AVA confirms
CHITRA KUMAR Straits Times 29 May 15;

SINGAPORE - The Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority (AVA) said it is aware that an AVA-licensed fishing vessel, SMF1195, was detained by the Malaysian authorities.

"Singapore understands that the fishing vessel was in Singapore waters when it was first approached by the Malaysian authorities. Singapore has registered our concerns with Malaysia over this incident and is in contact with the Malaysian authorities," a AVA spokesman said.

The vessel and its four crew members were detained in Malaysia for alleged illegal fishing in its water, reports said.

The boat was about four nautical miles off Pedra Branca on Tuesday morning when it was approached by the Malaysian authorities. The fishing vessel was later detained at Kota Tinggi in Johor, according to reports.

Singapore claims M’sian held fishing vessel was in its waters
New Straits Times 29 May 15;

SINGAPORE: Singapore has registered “our concerns” with Malaysia over the latter’s detention of a Singapore-registered fishing vessel that the republic claims was in its waters when first approached by the Malaysian authorities.

Channel NewsAsia (CNA) television quoted the Singapore Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority (AVA) as having confirmed the incident on Thursday and saying that Singapore was in contact with the Malaysian authorities.

CNA quoted an AVA spokesman as saying that the AVA-licensed fishing vessel, SMF1195, and its four crew were detained for alleged poaching in Malaysian waters.

The report quoted AVA as saying that “Singapore understands that the fishing vessel was in Singapore waters when it was first approached by the Malaysian authorities.

“Singapore has registered our concerns with Malaysia over this incident and is in contact with the Malaysian authorities.

” The vessel’s owner, Lian Yak Fish Merchant, reportedly said the boat was about four nautical miles off Pedra Branca at 6 am on Tuesday when it was approached by a Malaysian patrol boat. The vessel was later detained at Kota Tinggi in Johor.

Lian Yak Fish Merchant also said that three Malaysian officials had boarded the vessel and told the crew to head towards Sedili in Kota Tinggi.

“We arrived the next day, and the crew members were detained without bail,” the company was quoted as saying.

Lian Yak Fish Merchant said the vessel was probably not in Malaysian waters, as it had been fishing in the area for more than 40 years, and even though it had misunderstandings previously, they were resolved.

The four crew are foreigners between the ages of 36 and 62, and they are slated to appear in court next Tuesday, the firm said. – BERNAMA

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