AARON LEE New Straits Times 4 Jun 17;
KOTA KINABALU: The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) has chased away a group of fishermen trying to conduct blast fishing near Sepanggar island here, yesterday.
Kota Kinabalu MMEA director First Admiral Adam Aziz said its personnel on patrol duty spotted a suspicious-looking pump near the area at 9.40am and decided to intercept it.
“As the team was closing in, the pump boat sped off towards Pulau Sepanggar to prevent arrest.
“The individuals on board were seen throwing an object that looked like a bottle into the sea before jumping into the shallow waters and ran off,” he said in a statement.
Upon inspection, Adam said the team found numerous items used for illegal fishing including snorkels and explosive materials.
“The boat was also loaded with 10 kilogrammes of fish, which we believe were caught using this illegal fishing method,” he said.
He said MMEA has confiscated all the items and the case will be investigated under the Fishery Act 1985 which carries a fine of up to RM20,000 or two years jail or both on conviction.
