SEMPORNA: The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) seized a pump boat suspected to be involved in fish bombing activity off Pulau Bum Bum waters, on Monday.
Semporna Maritime Zone Director, Maritime Commander Amir Shubli said the team spotted the boat during a patrol in the area about 0.8 nautical miles from Tanjung Pantau Pantau at about 12.20pm.
“The boat, without registration number, was apprehended and upon inspection, the team discovered 50kg fish believed caught using the self-made explosives.
window.googletag = window.googletag || {cmd: []};googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.defineSlot('/22826383987/dailyexpress_inline', [1, 1], 'gpt-passback').addService(googletag.pubads());googletag.enableServices();googletag.display('gpt-passback');});“However, no arrest was made as the suspect who operated the boat managed to escape into the shallow areas,” he said, in a statement.
According to Amir, the fish-bombing activity is an offence under the Fisheries Act 1985.
Further investigation is ongoing to identify the suspect and the chain that involved in the fish bombing activity.
The agency urged the public to provide information on illegal fishing activities or suspicious activities by contacting 999 emergency line or Semporna Maritime Zone Operations Centre at 089-782619.
