Penang: The Penang Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) detained a Class B1 Local Fishing Vessel (VNT) after it was suspected of violating the terms of its licence by carrying out fishing activities at a distance of less than eight nautical miles, early today. Its director, Maritime Captain Muhammad Suffi Mohd Ramli, said the arrest was carried out at 1.35 am following a complaint from the public via WhatsApp informing them that the boat was believed to be operating too close to the coastal area.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the boat was detained at a position about 0.1 nautical miles north of Pulau Rimau and was found not complying with the minimum limit of eight nautical miles set under the Fisheries Act 1985. A total of four crew members consisting of two local men and two Indonesian men with permanent resident status who were on the boat were also detained to assist in further investigations.

The case is being investigated under Section 8(b) of the Fisheries Act 1985, and all the crew and the vessel were handed over to the Penang MMEA investigating officer for further investigation. The total value of the seized items is estimated to be worth RM1.5 million.