The Enforcement Division of the Pahang Fisheries Department has detained two Zone C trawler vessels found fishing illegally within the Marine Park area near Kampung Juara, Pulau Tioman, yesterday.
The successful enforcement was the result of routine patrols and monitoring of local fishing vessels in the Rompin and Pekan waters, which are key fishing zones in the state.
State Fisheries Director Roslan Abu Hasan said the department views seriously the offences committed by the two vessels, which were caught fishing within the protected marine park area of Pulau Tioman, a well-known international tourist destination.
He said both locally registered vessels from Johor were intercepted while conducting fishing activities at about 2.30am and 3.15am respectively within the marine park area near Kampung Juara.
Both vessels are being investigated under Section 8(b) of the Fisheries Act 1985 for breaching licence conditions by fishing within 12 nautical miles, which is restricted for Zone C vessels.
If convicted, offenders may face a fine of up to RM20,000, imprisonment of up to two years, or both.
Roslan said the total value of the seizure, including the vessels and fishing equipment, is estimated at RM2 million.
He stressed that fishing within the Pulau Tioman Marine Park is a serious offence as it can damage coral reefs, which are a major attraction for tourism.
He added that three officers from the Teluk Gading Conservation and Protection Base (PKOPP), using patrol boat PTL 30, were involved in the operation.
In a previous operation in March, the department detained five trawler boats and 23 crew members for fishing within the prohibited 12-nautical-mile zone.
The latest operation also forms part of ongoing enforcement efforts in the Rompin and Pekan waters, a hotspot for fishing activity in the state.
