KUCHING: The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) seized a Vietnamese fishing vessel with 18 crew members for encroaching into Malaysian waters here yesterday.
The crew members, including the skipper, were conducting illegal fishing activities when they were arrested at 132 nautical miles northwest of Kuala Kemena, Bintulu, at around 10am.
Bintulu MMEA acting director Maritime Commander Effendy Mohamed Fadil said the agency's vessel KM Tabah was conducting a routine patrol when they spotted the suspicious foreign fishing boat.
He said the crew had acted aggressively and refused to cooperate when KM Tabah approached them.
"They placed various objects (obstacles) on the floor of their vessel to prevent the ship from being detained. Meanwhile the skipper tried to escape by speeding (the boat) towards international waters," he said.
"It took us about two hours to intercept and detain the vessel," he said in a statement today.
"The skipper and crew members, aged between 20 and 46, failed to produce any valid documents, permit or license from the Fisheries Department to conduct fishing activities in Malaysian waters.
Effendy said they were detained to assist investigations.
He said MMEA seized fishing equipment, 2,000 litres of diesel and 15 metric tonnes of various fish species.
"The vessel and other items seized valued at about RM1 million were later sealed," he added.
He said the case will be investigated under the Fisheries Act 1985, for carrying out fishing activities in Malaysian waters without a valid permit and the Immigration Act 1959/63 for failing to produce any identification document.
If convicted, the skipper can be fined up to RM6 million, while the crew members can be fined up to RM600,000 each and the vessel can be forfeited to the Malaysian government.
All crew members had undergone a Covid-19 swab test upon arrival at the jetty as a precautionary measure to prevent the spread of the virus.