SABAH is mulling several new approaches to end the practice among deep-sea fishing boat operators of sorting catches.

Sabah Agriculture and Food Industry Minister Junz Wong said they were only bringing in low-quality seafood to the state, denying consumers good quality catches which fetch high prices elsewhere.

Wong said he is looking into the immigration laws and fisheries act to put an end to the menace.

“It is a reality that very little quality fish lands in Sabah. Most of them are ‘trash fishes’.

“We should have plenty of good quality fish, and consumers can get reasonable prices if all the catches are landed here in accordance to what is specified on the licences,” said Wong, suggesting deep-sea fishing boat operators were sorting their catches.

Wong said this after meeting Deputy Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Minister Sim Tze Tzin in Putrajaya today.

Sabah, considered a seafood haven, is fast seeing the depletion of its seafood following the rampant encroachment of Vietnamese fishing vessels, some of which were “cloned” to bear locally registered permits.

There are a total of 52 licensed deep sea fishing vessels in Sabah and 31 of them are Vietnamese boats.

Wong said only Sabahans or permanent residents in Sabah are allowed to operate deep-sea fishing boats, but it seems only Vietnamese nationals are controlling them.

He said he had informed the Fisheries Department to make it mandatory for all fishing boat operators to declare their catches at landing points.

He said those who refuse could see themselves unable to renew their licences.

“I’m also planning to raise in the state cabinet to prohibit Vietnamese from working on locally registered boats,” he said.

Since 2015, Malaysia has restricted the purchase of vessels from Vietnam, Philippines, Taiwan, China and Brunei in 2015. – January 19, 2019.