MIRI: Six local crew members of a fishing vessel were detained off Kuala Niah here on Tuesday morning for illegal trawling.
Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) Miri chief, Captain Mohd Fauzi Othman said in a press statement released yesterday that the Class C fishing vessel was caught by MMEA 4.3 nautical miles off Kuala Niah around 10.50am on Tuesday.
“Six crew members including the skipper were spotted using drag net fishing method 4.33 nautical miles off Kuala Niah,” he added.
The six crew members aged between 26 and 56 years are being detained for questioning.
It is an offence for fishing trawlers to use drag net fishing within 12 nautical miles from the coastline under Section 8 of the Fisheries Act, 1985.
