Five Vietnamese trawlers nabbed in Terengganu waters in 72 hours
KUALA LUMPUR: Another five Vietnamese trawlers, with 40 fishermen, were detained in two separate operations over the past 72 hours for encroachment and poaching in Terengganu waters.
In the first incident last Tuesday, the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) pursued three trawlers, manned by 23 fishermen, for nearly five hours before overpowering the culprits in the South China Sea.
MMEA deputy director-general (operations) Vice-Admiral Datuk Mohamad Zubil Mat Som said KM Pekan, from the agency’s Kuantan base, spotted the three vessels fishing illegally about 100 nautical miles off Terengganu.
“The three vessels scampered off upon seeing us approach and we gave chase, finally forcing them to surrender.
“None of them had valid travel documents or permits to fish,” he said.
Zubil said that in follow-up operations last Wednesday, KM Pekan spotted a suspicious five-man trawler with a cloned registration of a local vessel, fishing 30 nautical miles off Terengganu.
“Upon closer examination, our men discovered that the trawler’s engine number did not match its registration on its fishing licence.
“The registration was also found to be false and the tekong failed to activate the onboard vessel tracking and monitoring system,” he said.
He said KM Pekan is now actively involved in the Operasi Makmur, Operasi Iman and Operasi Damai, Series 30/2019 - enforcement operations covering Pahang, Terengganu and Kelantan.
The MMEA’s third success was scored also last Wednesday when KM Segantang detained another Vietnamese trawler, with a crew of 12, about 79 nautical miles off the Kuala Terengganu estuary.
Zubil said all five seized trawlers were now berthed at the agency’s jetty in Kuala Terengganu, to facilitate investigations under the Fisheries Act 1985 and Immigration Act 1959/63.
“We will intensify our operations via patrols and enforcement under the just launched Ops Pagar for Ramadan, to protect the sovereignty of our waters,” he said, adding that under the integrated multi-agency Ops Naga, a total of 31 Vietnamese trawlers with a crew of 171 had been detained earlier.
These include the MMEA’s vessels - KM Jujur, Penyelamat 7, Kilat 17, KM Segantang and KM Pekan – that managed to nab a total of 17 Vietnamese trawlers in Terengganu waters.
The Royal Malaysian Navy’s KD Laksamana Muhammad Amin and KD Laksamana Tan Pusmah detained 11 vessels, the Marine Police’s PSC 35 and PGR 18 detained one, and the Fisheries Department’s PL 108 detained two.
The MMEA also has Kilat 2 on standby, while the Fisheries Department has PL 77, PL 92, PL 111, PL 107 and PL 87 vessels involved.
Additionally, the MMEA has deployed one Agusta-Westland AW139 helicopter, the Royal Malaysian Air Force Beechcraft King Air B200T and the police Beechcraft Super King Air B300 aeroplane for aerial surveillance.
To date, a total of 164 fishing vessels were screened by the MMEA, 13 by the RMN, 84 by the police and 64 by the Fisheries Department.
'Whole-government' approach may help Malaysia win 'war' against illegal Vietnamese fishermen
KUALA LUMPUR: The implementation of a ‘whole-government’ approach to fight against the menace posed by illegal Vietnamese fishermen is bearing fruit.
Deputy Defence Minister Liew Chin Tong said Op Naga, a multi-agency task force operation launched two weeks ago, was a more thorough coordination involving the relevant enforcement agencies.
“This has been a very long standing problem for us. And now, we are having more of a ‘whole-government’ involvement with the participation of the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency, navy, air force, Customs, Immigration, police, Fisheries Department and even the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission,” he said.
He added that the announcement by Foreign Minister Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah on a possible treaty with Vietnam by year’s end was a good move, in the hope of finding a permanent solution to the illegal fishing issue.
Fisheries Department director-general Datuk Munir Mohd Nawi said the multi-agency task force approach should be continually exercised.
“This is the best possible way to curb encroachment of foreign fishing vessels and to safeguard the billions of ringgit in our fisheries resources.
“On our part, the department will continue to implement resource management programmes to restore the depletion of fish and marine life,” he said, adding that one of the initiatives was to introduce artificial reefs on a large scale.
“The situation is so dire that we have to get the artificial reefs going. We are very serious about this matter,” he said.
On Saturday, Saifuddin had revealed that Malaysia and Vietnam had agreed to find a solution to the perennial issue of encroachment by the latter’s fishermen into Malaysian waters.
Saifuddin had broached the subject during his meeting with Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and Deputy Prime Minister Pham Binh Minha, who is also their Foreign Minister, during an official visit to Hanoi.
He had told them that the problem had become a major encumbrance for Malaysia as the lockups to detain their fishermen and jetties berthed with seized fishing trawlers were cramped.
Additionally, Saifuddin had highlighted the fact of Malaysia having to bear expenses to feed the detainees, pending deportation.
The treaty with Vietnam is expected to be similar to the one clinched with Indonesia and other neighbouring countries.
Malaysian enforcement agencies had seized a total of 748 trawlers and detained 7,203 fishermen from Vietnam between 2006 and early this month.
“At a prior meeting, the Vietnamese government had also given an assurance that it would educate its fishermen against continuing to encroach Malaysia’s waters,” Saifuddin had disclosed.
Op Naga, launched on April 26, scored credible success by screening 226 Vietnamese trawlers, seizing 28 of them and detaining 123 of its crew for illegal activities.
The New Straits Times learnt that the 28 vessels had been berthed at the MMEA jetties in Kuala Terengganu, Tok Bali and Kemaman in Terengganu.
OP NAGA: Where and when Vietnamese trawlers were seized
APRIL 26-30, 2019: (All detained off Kuala Terengganu by MMEA’s KM Pekan)
• April 25: 142 nautical miles
• April 25: 141 nautical miles
• April 25: 145 nautical miles
• April 26: 53 nautical miles
• April 26: 51 nautical miles
• April 30: 143 nautical miles
• April 30: 153 nautical miles
• April 30: 141 nautical miles
• April 30: 138 nautical miles
• April 30: 136 nautical miles
• April 30: 138 nautical miles
• April 30: 140 nautical miles
MAY 2-18, 2019
• May 2: 32.7 nautical miles off Kuala Pahang by Fisheries Department’s PL 111
• May 2: 103.2 nautical miles east of Kuala Terengganu by RMN’s KD Laksamana Muhammad Amin
• May 3: 21.8 nautical miles off Pulau Redang by MMEA’s BM Penyelamat 7
• May 3: 3.26 nautical miles off Pulau Perhentian Kecil by Marine Police’s PA 6
• May 3: 101.5 nautical miles off Kuala Terengganu by RMN’s KD Ganyang
• May 4: 157 nautical miles north-east
off Kemaman by RMN’s KD Laksamana Tan Pusmah
• May 4: 126 nautical miles off Kuala Terengganu by RMN’s KD Laksamana Muhammad Amin
• May 8: 63 nautical miles off Kuala Terengganu by BM Penggalang 17
• May 9: 73 nautical miles off Tok Bali by RMN’s KD Laksamana Muhammad Amin
• May 11: 7.1 nautical miles off Pulau Tenggol by Fisheries Department’s PL 108
• May 11: 134 nautical miles off Kuala Terengganu by RMN’s KD Pahang
• May 11: 134 nautical miless off Kuala Terengganu by RMN’s KD Pahang
• May 13: 149 nautical miles off Kuala Terengganu by RMN’s KD Pahang
• May 13: 153 nautical miles off Kuala Terengganu by KD Pahang
• May 16: 105 nautical miles off Tok Bali by RMN’s KD Laksamana Tan Pusmah
• May 17: 100 nautical miles off Kuala Terengganu by RMN’s KD Laksamana Muhammad Amin
Reasons for Vietnamese fishermen encroachment 'surge'
KUALA LUMPUR: VIETNAMESE trawlers encroach on Malaysian waters partly because it is less stringently policed compared with the sea around the Paracels and Spratlys archipelago, where Chinese forces have a strong presence.
Vietnamese fishermen are also venturing further out into the open sea after over-harvesting, dredging and the building of artificial islands had damaged 160 sq km of their country’s seabed.
A fisheries industry expert said poaching had also resulted in the depletion of Vietnam’s fish stock by as much as 70 per cent over the past 20 years.
Fisheries Department director-general Datuk Munir Mohd Nawi said these had caused the Vietnamese fishermen to trespass on Malaysian waters to plunder some RM6 billion in marine resources a year.
The worst part was that the illegal fishermen used dragnets that destroy the priceless marine ecosystem including corals.
Vietnam’s fishing industry employs more than 4.5 million people and is the world’s fourth largest exporter of fish after China, Norway and Thailand.
The Vietnamese Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (Vasep) reported that the country’s catch amounted to US$10 billion (RM41 billion) a year.
Former Maritime Institute of Malaysia (Mima) director-general retired First Admiral Datuk Chin Yoon Chin said there were more than 80,000 trawlers operated by Vietnamese fishermen.
“Their favourite catch are the expensive bluefin tuna and equally high-priced yellowfin tuna. Other popular ones are grouper, squid, cockles and shell-fish, crabs, shrimps, snapper, lobsters, oysters and baby sharks.”
A Bluefin tuna reportedly sells for US$200 per kg, while yellowfin tuna can fetch US$8 per kg. Earlier this year, a 277.6kg bluefin tuna was sold for US$3 million in Japan.
“The extraction of this natural resource in the South China Sea has been the cause of many international spats recently.
“The area is biologically diverse and home to 3,365 species of fish. It is also one of the five most productive fishing zones in the world with regard to total annual marine production.
“It helps the coastal economy and is crucial for the export trade and food security of 12 countries and territories it borders.”
Chin added that since 1998, Vietnam had offered US$65 million in economic incentives and preferential loans to its offshore fishermen to upgrade their vessels with powerful engines and modern equipment.
“Private businesses and foreign-invested businesses linked to Vasep are also given tax reductions during the first three years of offshore fisheries business,” said Chin.
He said there were 31 ports from where the Vietnamese trawlers operated.
However, only seven could accommodate large vessels equipped with 400hp engines — Lach Bang and Lach Hoi in Thanh Hoa province; Cua Hoi in Nghe An province; Xuan Pho in Ha Tinh province; Song Gianh in Quang Binh province; Con Co in Quang Tri province; and Thuan Phuoc in Da Nang province.
'We lack assets to combat illegal fishing'
 |
| Malaysian maritime agencies do not have enough “muscle” to thwart illegal fishing by Vietnamese vessels in the nation’s exclusive economic zone waters. (NSTP Archive) |
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian maritime agencies do not have enough “muscle” to thwart illegal fishing by Vietnamese vessels in the nation’s exclusive economic zone waters.
They lack adequate number of vessels and equipment, owing to budgetary constraints.
The New Sunday Times has learnt that some of the Vietnamese vessels were 24m long and powered by 400-horsepower engines.
They were equipped with
magnetic compasses, global positioning systems, electronic chart display and information systems, navigational charts, automatic identification systems and high- and very-high frequency radios.
magnetic compasses, global positioning systems, electronic chart display and information systems, navigational charts, automatic identification systems and high- and very-high frequency radios.
Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) chief Admiral Datuk Mohd Reza Mohd Sany said most of the Vietnamese fishing vessels had modern navigational gadgets to monitor
the presence of Malaysian authorities in their vicinity.
the presence of Malaysian authorities in their vicinity.
“Some of the vessels can sustain more than two weeks at sea and are supported by a mothership to provide replenishment.”
He said enforcement agencies like the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA), RMN, marine police, Fisheries and Marine departments were ill equipped and lacked the required resources due to obsolescence.
Reza said 60 per cent of RMN’s vessels were more than 35 years old, with two 50-year-old patrol craft.
“Some of them are even older than my years of service with the navy,” he said, adding that despite these challenges, RMN’s vessels had soldiered on.
He said they maintained a continuous presence in our waters through various operations, at least eight of which required a 24/7 and 365 days-a-year patrol at sea.
Reza said the punishing schedule had caused rapid deterioration of the vessels and required a carefully managed system to uplift morale of the crew, as they spent extended time away from their families.
“We are committed and determined to fulfil our mission to defend Malaysia’s sovereignty and maritime interests.
“The threat may differ and we may not have the best of equipment, but we will always be there when needed.”
He said RMN was enhancing its fleet capabilities.
It is acquiring new assets, like six littoral combat ships (LCS) from France for US$2.8 billion (RM11.76 billion) and four littoral mission ships (LMS) from China for RM1.17 billion.
Reza said: “It is pertinent for RMN to be adequately equipped.
“It will not only guarantee the nation’s maritime security, but also enable and encourage
maritime-based economic activities. It is a worthwhile investment,”
maritime-based economic activities. It is a worthwhile investment,”
He was referring to RMN’s “15-to-5 Transformation” programme aimed at restructuring the RMN’s 15 classes of vessels to five categories: LMS, LCS, multi-role support ships (MRSS), new-generation patrol vessels and submarines.
RMN, Reza said, had a strong network of cooperation with other
government law enforcement agencies, periodically nabbing illegal foreign fishing vessels in Malaysian waters.
government law enforcement agencies, periodically nabbing illegal foreign fishing vessels in Malaysian waters.
“For example, there is an ongoing operation in the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia, where eight illegal Vietnamese trawlers were apprehended in the space of 14 days,” he said, adding that the seized vessels were handed over to MMEA for action.
Royal Malaysian Air Force chief General Tan Sri Affendi Buang said they were providing “eye-in-the-sky” surveillance for Malaysia’s maritime and naval vessels, using CN235 and C130 Hercules aircraft.
“Lately, we have detected an increased presence of Vietnamese fishing vessels in the northeast area off Peninsular Malaysia, in the South China Sea.
“We are monitoring the situation and providing information to our enforcement agencies for further action.”
Malaysia wages 'war' on Vietnam trawlers
KUALA LUMPUR: MALAYSIA has sent a strong message to Vietnam that it is fully committed to protecting its billions of ringgit of fish and marine resources in the South China Sea.
On April 25, Malaysia initiated a multi-agency task force to safeguard its 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone (EEZ) from poaching by Vietnamese trawlers.
Wisma Putra followed it up by sending a strong protest note to Hanoi, via its ambassador here on May 8, signalling its “war” against the marauding trawlers.
The task force is understood to have mobilised an assortment of maritime, naval, marine and fisheries assets and thousands of personnel, with “eye in the sky” support from the air force.
The latest success was on May 11 when the Royal Malaysian Navy’s patrol vessel, KD Pahang, detained a fleeing Vietnamese trawler about 130 nautical miles northeast of Kemaman, along with its crew of 14.
On the same day, another trawler with 29 crew members was detained by the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA), about 80 nautical miles off Kuching, Sarawak.
On May 4, MMEA detained a Vietnamese trawler, with a crew of 24, 83 nautical miles from Kuala Pahang.
MMEA director-general Admiral Datuk Seri Zulkifli Abu Bakar said the task force would not relent in battling the illegal activities of Vietnamese fishermen, who were illegally harvesting RM6 billion worth of fish annually.
Indirectly, the destruction of coral reefs on idyllic islands off Terengganu, Pahang, Johor, Sarawak and Sabah is affecting Malaysia’s mega tourism industry.
The New Sunday Times has learnt that Malaysia is contemplating increasing the severity of punishments for the culprits as a stronger deterrent.
Zulkifli said: “The Vietnamese fishermen do not seem to be rattled by the increased punishments from their authorities who have amended their Fishery Law. Even the Yellow Card issued (in October 2017) to Vietnam by the European Union does not seem to be effective.”
The Yellow Card is a warning that Vietnam has not been tackling illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, resulting in a complete ban on exports to Europe, which is the world’s biggest importer of fisheries products.
The global value of illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing is estimated at €10 billion to €20 billion (RM46.64 billion to RM93.27 billion) a year. Between 11 million and 26 million tonnes of fish are caught illegally a year, constituting at least 15 per cent of world catches.
Thailand was slapped with a Yellow Card in April 2015, but it was removed in January this year after it successfully addressed shortcomings in its fisheries legal and administrative systems.
Zulkifli believes the Vietnamese authorities face a daunting task in tackling the situation.
“I believe there are tens of thousands of Vietnamese fishing vessels and their authorities are having a hard time containing them.”
The NSU has learnt that there are 80,000 Vietnamese trawlers, and the fishermen, who are driven by poverty, resort to poaching because they want to reap quick profits.
MMEA wants two 'motherships', UAVs to combat illegal fishing by foreigners
KUANTAN: Having two ‘motherships’ would help the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) win court cases against foreign fishermen it detains as these ships can launch unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV).
MMEA director-general Admiral Datuk Zulkifili Abu Bakar said the UAVs can be launched on routine patrols to take photographic evidence of illegal trawling by foreign fishermen.
He noted that these foreign fishermen, who are mostly from Vietnam, tend to cut lose their trawling nets at the first sign of trouble.
“As a result, they (illegal fishermen) tend to be acquitted by the courts as there is insufficient evidence against them. With these motherships, the UAVs can use their onboard cameras to take pictures (of illegal fishing activities) as evidence.
“When the UAV encounters (illegal fishing activities in Malaysia’s Exclusive Economic Zone or EEZ), the mothership can launch six smaller boats to the scene.
“Even if they (illegal fishermen) cut the nets, we have already got the evidence (to win court cases against them),” he said.
Zulkifili was speaking after a ceremony for the handing over of duties between outgoing MMEA Eastern Region commander First Admiral Datuk Mamu Said Alee and his successor First Admiral Zulkarnain Mohd Omar at the regional Region headquarters here today.
He said having motherships with UAVs and the smaller vessels would enable the agency to patrol 100 nautical miles in every direction.
He said this was important in light of the fact that MMEA had caught 102 foreign fishing boats from Vietnam encroaching in Malaysian waters between January and this month alone.
Zulkifili said having such motherships would boost MMEA’s holistic approach to tackling encroachment of the country’s EEZ by foreign fishermen as their activities cause huge losses to Malaysian fishermen, among others.
“For example, trawling by foreign fishing boats scrape the sea bottom and damage coral reefs, which are the natural habitats of fish and other marine life.
“It was reported that the Fisheries Department has estimated between RM3 billion and RM6 billion in losses annually (from illegal fishing activities).
“However, when ecosystem damage is taken into account, the losses suffered by the nation would be larger and possibly beyond repair,” he said.
In June, Zulkifili had said MMEA needs two vessels to act as motherships to augment security and surveillance of Malaysian waters.
He had said having motherships would greatly help MMEA in joint cooperation efforts with other enforcement agencies such as marine police and the Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) to safeguard Malaysian waters.
Recently, Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi had called on maritime enforcement agencies to protect the country’s EZZ from encroachment by foreign fishing vessels at all costs.
He said the encroachment by foreign vessels had caused the country to lose between RM3 billion and RM6 billion in revenue yearly.
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