KUALA NERUS: A total of 131 foreign fishing boats that were impounded by Malaysian authorities were disposed of as artificial reef in Terengganu waters in the past 10 years.

       Terengganu Maritime director Maritime Captain Muhammad Sufi Mohd Ramli said this year, the agency would dispose of another 35 foreign fishing boats.

       “The sinking of the boats as artificial reef is an initiative by the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) to promote marine biodiversity and increase tourism through scuba diving recreational activities,” he said in a Bernama report.

       He told reporters this after sinking four Vietnamese fishing boats in the waters of Pulau Redang, yesterday.

       The Vietnamese boats were seized in Ops Naga Barat and Ops Kuda Laut in 2020.

       Meanwhile, Muhammad Sufi said encroachment by foreign fishing boats into Malaysian waters was on the decline currently due to the northeast monsoon season.

       “An increase in activities is expected after the Chinese New Year season,” he added.