By Suhaila Shahrul Annuar
SABAK BERNAM, Feb 13 — The proposal to establish control posts along the coast of Kuala Selangor and Sabak Bernam is among the state government’s efforts to address the issue of cockle seed theft in the area, said Dato’ Seri Amirudin Shari.
The Menteri Besar said the move, with the cooperation of relevant enforcement agencies, could also more efficiently prevent the use of “bubu naga” fish traps, which pose harm to the fishing ecosystem.
“We need to identify several sites to establish control posts so that monitoring operations can be carried out.
“The Marine Police and the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) are all based in Port Klang, while the distance to Bagan Nakhoda Omar Jetty (Sabak Bernam) is approximately 60 nautical miles,” he said when met following a site visit to the jetty, here today, adding that a total of 10 locations were classified as hotspots, including Sungai Haji Dorani, Assam Jawa, and Bagan Tengkorak.
Amirudin said the state administration is also actively identifying suitable assets and equipment for monitoring locations where shellfish seed theft occurs but are inaccessible by regular boats due to muddy conditions.
“Those who use ‘bubu naga’ are also more sophisticated because they mark them with global positioning system (GPS) technology, not just buoys or floats.
“However, what is important is that continuous operations will be carried out, and those who commit offences can be taken action against at any time,” he said.
Amirudin further stated that the Selangor Water Management Board (Luas) will implement a zero-discharge policy to address pollution issues allegedly affecting cockle breeding in the Kampung Tok Muda Kapar area, Klang.
On Saturday, it was reported that around 20kg of shellfish seeds believed to be stolen were found following a MMEA patrol boat performing enforcement patrols near the Kuala Selangor jetty at around 2.15pm on February 9.
According to Selangor MMEA director Captain Abdul Muhaimin Muhammad Salleh, taking shellfish seeds from natural habitats violates the Fisheries Act 1985.
