Ban on crocodile and trawl nets

The government will ban the use of crocodile and trawl nets soon to save the depleting fish resources, said Deputy Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Minister Datuk Mohd Johari Baharum.

"We are waiting for the right time to issue a notice on the ban to fishermen," he told reporters after handing over fishing boat licences to fishermen from northern Kedah here today.

He said the Fisheries Department would specify the types nets allowed.

"We will no longer use nets that pose a major threat to our fish resources.

The use of these nets is already banned in Thailand and Indonesia," he said.

The use of trawl nets from 2000 to 2005 had caused the extinction of 150 species of fish in the country, including 81 species in Kedah, he said, adding terubuk and sela were among the species that had disappeared from Kedah waters.

He said the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency should prevent intrusion of fishermen using crocodile and trawl nets.