Post by tekmac on Feb 9, 2005 8:37:13 GMT -5
SIPADAN, Malaysia (5 Feb 2005) -- A fishing boat skipper and two crew members were detained today by police for investigations into the alleged encroachment into Sipadan island waters off Semporna about two weeks ago. A diver had taken a photograph of a fishing boat laden with fish traps (bubu) and two men onboard in the area last month.
A search for the boat was promptly launched after the photograph was published in the newspapers.
Police, with the help of the Fisheries Department, managed to track down the boat and detain its 48-year-old skipper and two crew members, in their 20s, at 10am today.
Semporna district police chief Deputy Superintendent Abdul Latiff Ibrahim said the three Filipinos, who had valid travel documents, would be detained for investigations into the case.
Initial investigations revealed that the three men had been using traditional fish traps made of wire-mesh in areas where the waters were between 10m and 20m deep.
Waters surrounding Sipadan island are up to 2,500m deep and unsuitable for fishing using fishtraps or home-made bombs.
Latiff said the three fishermen claimed their boat had stalled near Sipadan island when their photograph was taken.
They also pointed out that the photograph showed the fish-traps were on the roof of the vessel and not in the water.
Meanwhile, the State Government plans to gazette Sipadan as a marine park within the next six months to protect its surroundings.
The island, one of the world's premier dive sites, is a restricted area as it serves as a bird and turtle sanctuary. Access up to 500m off the island's low-tide line is restricted.
State secretary Datuk K.Y. Mustafa said when the island becomes a marine park, the restriction limit would be raised to a five-kilometre radius.
"We have to go through a series of procedures to do this (gazette the island as a marine park) and it will take time," he said.
SOURCE - New Straits Times
A search for the boat was promptly launched after the photograph was published in the newspapers.
Police, with the help of the Fisheries Department, managed to track down the boat and detain its 48-year-old skipper and two crew members, in their 20s, at 10am today.
Semporna district police chief Deputy Superintendent Abdul Latiff Ibrahim said the three Filipinos, who had valid travel documents, would be detained for investigations into the case.
Initial investigations revealed that the three men had been using traditional fish traps made of wire-mesh in areas where the waters were between 10m and 20m deep.
Waters surrounding Sipadan island are up to 2,500m deep and unsuitable for fishing using fishtraps or home-made bombs.
Latiff said the three fishermen claimed their boat had stalled near Sipadan island when their photograph was taken.
They also pointed out that the photograph showed the fish-traps were on the roof of the vessel and not in the water.
Meanwhile, the State Government plans to gazette Sipadan as a marine park within the next six months to protect its surroundings.
The island, one of the world's premier dive sites, is a restricted area as it serves as a bird and turtle sanctuary. Access up to 500m off the island's low-tide line is restricted.
State secretary Datuk K.Y. Mustafa said when the island becomes a marine park, the restriction limit would be raised to a five-kilometre radius.
"We have to go through a series of procedures to do this (gazette the island as a marine park) and it will take time," he said.
SOURCE - New Straits Times