KUCHING: Region 5 marine police seized a fishing boat and arrested its four crew members yesterday after they were caught trawling in a prohibited area, 0.5 nautical miles off Kuala Belawai, Sarikei.
Region 5 commander Assistant Commissioner Salehuddin Mat Zaman said a patrol unit spotted the boat, which was less than five kilometres from the shore, at about 6am.
“They are not supposed to use such a method in the area, which is very close to the shore.
"Hence, our team seized the boat and four locals, including the skipper. We escorted them back to Tanjung Manis for further investigation,” he said in a statement here today.
The boat, trawlers and 100kg of catch worth an estimated RM175,500 were seized.
"We believe the fishes were caught using the (trawler) method, and were confiscated,” he said.
The case is being investigated under Section 8 (b) of the Fisheries Act 1985.