JOHOR BARU: Four fishing vessels had been detained for encroaching into the no-fishing zones within the waters off the Johor Port, Kuala Sungai Masai and Eastern Johor.
Johor Fisheries Department director Zainudin Wahab said they were caught during the monitoring, controlling and surveillance patrolling programme by the department’s Fisheries Protection Unit.
“The vessels - one Zone B vessel and three Zone C vessels were apprehended while fishing in the no-fishing zones," he said.
Zainudin said it was an offence under Section 8(b) of the Fisheries Act 1985, for any fishing vessel found violating the conditions stipulated in the license.
He said the first Zone C vessel was detained at 10.59pm about 7.4 nautical miles (13.70km) off Tanjung Balau with four Indonesians on board – a 55-year-old captain and three fishermen aged between 46 and 55.
Zainudin said the second vessel was detained nine nautical miles (16.66km) from Pantai Kelesa with a 49-year-old Malaysian captain and four Indonesian fishermen between 40 and 56 years old.
“The third vessel was caught at 12.15am about 8.5 nautical miles (15.74km) from Pantai Kelesa," he said with a 43-year-old local captain and four Indonesian fishermen aged between 40 and 56.
Zainudin said the Zone B vessel was detained around 6.40am about 5.2 nautical miles (9.63km) from Tanjung Kelesa with all local crew on board - a 67-year-old captain and three fishermen aged between 54 and 63.
“We also seized fishing equipment from the four vessels including fish traps,’’ he said and warned fishermen to comply with license conditions.
