RAWANG: The Fisheries Department has confiscated equipment used in the stealing of cockle spats in Sekinchan recently.
The department's director-general Datuk Adnan Hussain said the investigation into the matter was still ongoing.
"The department received information that the stealing of cockle spats happened in Sekinchan.
"We do not deny that such activities are happening and enforcement agencies, including the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency and the police, are taking all necessary actions to curb the issue.
"We have confiscated equipment used for the theft, such as poles and nets two days ago (in Sekinchan) and we also stopped a vehicle in Penang carrying unauthorised cockle spats.
"However, the investigation is still ongoing and efforts to curb the matter are still underway both on land and at sea," he said when met by reporters at a site visit in Rawang, today.
Present was Agriculture and Food Security Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu.
Adnan added that the department has also issued permits to those interested in collecting cockle spats.
"Currently, we have issued permits to any interested parties to obtain them legitimately.
"(And) according to our regulations, only spats larger than 4mm can be licensed.
"Our preliminary findings also suggest that these thefts occur especially at night and we have increased the enforcement and monitoring on the issue."
Previously, it was reported that the fishing community along Sungai Leman in Sekinchan had voiced their concerns about the rampant syndicate of cockle spats.
Despite attempts to curb the issue through various enforcement operations, the syndicate was still ongoing since it was discovered in December, last year.