SABAK BERNAM, Feb 23 — The Selangor Fisheries Department seized 160 sacks of cockle seedlings and detained four local individuals after uncovering an illegal harvesting and loading operation at a jetty in Bagan Sungai Pulai yesterday.
Its director Noraisyah Abu Bakar said the illegal activity was discovered during a patrol and monitoring operation conducted by its Fisheries Conservation and Protection Branch in the evening around Sabak Bernam.
"Inspection at a jetty in the Bagan Sungai Pulai area uncovered an activity involving the loading of cockle seedlings onto a lorry.
"Further checks found that no licence documents or authorisation related to cockle harvesting could be produced during the inspection," she said in a statement today.
Apart from cockle seedlings, the department also seized one three-tonne lorry, seven fine-mesh pole-scoop nets, and one transaction-related document during the operation. The total value of the seizure is estimated at RM107,500.
The four local individuals nabbed were aged between 20 and 60.
"All seized items have been taken to the department’s detention facility for further action, while the case has been handed over to the Selangor State Fisheries Department investigating officer for further investigation," Noraisyah said.
The case is being investigated under Regulation 3 of the Fisheries (Cockles Conservation and Culture) Regulations 2002 for suspected harvesting of cockle seedlings from natural beds or culture sites.
"The Selangor Fisheries Department stresses that firm action will continue to be taken against any party violating fisheries laws, particularly those involving high-value fisheries resources such as cockles, which are an important economic source for local fishing communities,” she said.
Members of the public with information on illegal fishing or harvesting of fisheries resources are urged to channel it to the nearest Fisheries office.
