Indonesians caught fishing in Malaysia

Indonesians caught fishing in Malaysia

KUALA LUMPUR (DPA): Malaysian authorities said on Monday 16 Indonesians and 11 Vietnamese fishermen have been arrested for illegally fishing in waters off Malaysia's Sarawak state on Sunday.

Fisheries department enforcement officers also seized two boats owned by the Indonesians and one by the Vietnamese, as well as 40 kilograms of fish.

Sarawak fisheries head Sulaiman Abu Bakar said seven Chinese fishing vessels were also spotted on Saturday in the area, but they managed to quickly flee into international waters.

Malaysian fishermen have long complained that foreign fishermen with bigger and more powerful boats, especially from neighboring Thailand and Indonesia, frequently encroach upon Malaysian territory where they make large catches that threaten to deplete fish stocks.