KUALA LUMPUR – The encroachment of 428 foreign fishing vessels into territorial waters has resulted in an estimated loss of a whopping RM823.88 million from 2020 to 2023, according to Agriculture and Food Security Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu.
Responding to a parliamentary question by Wan Razali Wan Nor (Kuantan-PN) regarding the total losses incurred due to foreign fishermen encroachment, the minister, affectionately known as Mat Sabu, revealed that data from the Fisheries Department, Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency, and the marine police contributed to this assessment.
The breakdown of estimated losses by year amounted to RM225.22 million in 2020 (117 cases), RM238.69 million in 2021 (124 cases), RM200.19 million in 2022 (104 cases), and RM159.77 million in 2023 (83 cases).
Among the recorded cases, 19 involved the arrest of foreign fishing vessels by the Fisheries Department during the same period. Specifically, there were 7 arrests in 2020, 8 arrests in 2021, 4 arrests in 2022, and no recorded cases in the last year.
He said 18 of the cases involved Vietnamese vessels and one case involved a vessel without a flag state.
“The ministry, through the Malaysian Fisheries Department, always collaborates with other enforcement agencies, such as the Marine Police Force and the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency, in efforts to address this issue.”
“The ministry takes the issue of encroachment involving illegal fishing activities by foreign fishing vessels in national waters very seriously,” Mohamad said.
“The encroachment by foreign fishermen poses a serious threat to the sustainability of local fishing resources and the livelihoods of our fishermen, resulting in significant losses to our national income.”
In addressing this pressing issue, Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail announced last May that Malaysia would engage in government-to-government discussions with neighbouring countries such as Vietnam, Thailand, and Indonesia.
The aim of these diplomatic talks is to resolve encroachment issues related to fishing activities in Malaysian territorial waters. – March 20, 2024