The recent license revocation for deep-sea fishing vessels leased to Vietnamese does not mean an outright ban on Vietnamese fishermen, said Agriculture and Agro-Based Industry Minister Datuk SeriIsmail Sabri Yaakob.
He explained that if the Government did that, it would have to ban all foreign workers as well.
“We are revoking the license of Malaysian boats leased out to Vietnamese and those that use the double-trawl method.
“We will also not allow the licensing of used vessels bought from Vietnam and crewed entirely by Vietnamese as they often do not land their catch at our jetties,” Ismail Sabri said at a meeting with east coast fishermen here Sunday.
He added that any Vietnamese fishermen found to engage in such acts would have their work permits canceled and sent back home.
Ismail Sabri said the move would surely affect the catch but the Government could always import fish to make up for it.
“When it came to our policy of increasing the catch or the safety of our fishermen, we decided to choose the latter. We will not compromise or tolerate threats to the safety and welfare of local fishermen,” he said.
The move was taken following a recent incident where Vietnamese crew members of a trawler were reported to have attacked local fishermen with petrol bombs
and shooting at them with a pistol off Kuantan.
Ismail Sabri said 24 boats leased to Vietnamese had been inspected since the announcement and 17 of them were probably double-trawling.
“We are also in the process of revoking the licenses of 30 boats leased out to foreigners,” he said.
Ismail Sabri said the Navy and marine police had also been asked to cooperate with the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency in patrolling the waters.
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