April 11, 2016 Monday
By Olivia Miwil
KOTA KINABALU: The marine police are cutting supply of explosives from neighbouring countries to end fish bombing in the state.
Sabah Marine Operation Force Commander Assistant Commissioner Mohamad Madun said its intelligence unit had been tracking and stopping smugglers and suppliers of explosives used for the fish blasting.
“The effort is to eradicate fish bombing and monitor sea activities.
“The marine police is serious in tackling fish bombing as it is detrimental to the marine ecosystem especially the coral reefs,” he said.
Mohamad said that Pulau Bum Bum, Semporna, was one of the hotspots of fish bombing activities, especially during low tide.
In the last two years, marine police have arrested 101 locals and foreigners involved in 71 bombing cases.
Police confiscated more than three tonne of bombed fishes, 29 units of compressors, 751 detonators and 48 kilogramme of fertiliser during the arrests.
Sabah Fisheries had stated there were between 60 and 80 fish bombing cases annually.
The department and Sabah Parks recently collaborated with a Hong Kong -based non-governmental organisation Stop Fish Bombing in coordinating a pilot test at Sepanggar waters here to detect underwater explosions from up to 25 kilometre away in real time.
The technology uses underwater sensor to detect sound waves and able to transmit the location of the bombing using global positioning system within 10 seconds.
The organisation is currently looking at getting companies to assist in locating the detectors at key marine parks and hotspot in Sabah.
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