TWO fishing vessels were impounded by the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency on August 1 on suspicion of using dubious licences.

The boats, which bore Sabah registration numbers but were crewed by Vietnamese sailors, were intercepted about 8 nautical miles from Mengalum Island in Sabah, and had giant clams among their 1,800kg catch. 

Kota Kinabalu MMEA director Adam Aziz said the boats had 110kg of giant clam shells, and 195.5kg of giant clams. 

Thrity-eight Vietnamese sailors between the ages of 18 and 46 were arrested, including skippers of the two boats. 

“During inspection, the skippers offered my men a bribe of RM3,400, but were refused,” he said.   

Harvesting giant clams is an offence under the Sabah Fishery Enactment 1984. 

Sabah environmental groups say the activities of Vietnamese fishermen in Sabah waters have reached worrying levels. 

“I understand that many Vietnamese fishing boats would set sail on a single licence. They are probably operating on a clone licence,” said Sabah Anglers Association president Wilfred Lingham. 

“Their practises are worrying, as they now harvest giant clams… from our seabeds,” he said. 

Lingham called on the Fisheries Department to revoke Malaysian-owned fishing licenses found on Vietnamese fishing vessels.

Sabah fish stocks are under threat from overfishing, with local fishermen claiming that hauls have dropped by as much as 50%  this year. 

MMEA said the case was being investigated under the Malaysian Fisheries Act 1985 and the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act 2009. – August 3, 2017.