Mohamad, better known as Mat Sabu, said the amendments are intended to increase the fines so that it will be on par with those imposed by neighbouring countries like Indonesia and Thailand.

“If we compare the current fines imposed, it is lower than in Thailand and Indonesia,” he told reporters after officiating the National Fishermen’s Association of Malaysia’s annual general meeting here.

While he did not go into detail about the increased penalties under the proposed amendments, Mohamad said it would be used to curb the use of certain fishing nets and sea pollutants among others.

“The amendments are basically improvements on the existing policies.”

Mohamad also said that the amendments will include harsher punishments for foreign fishermen who encroach on Malaysian waters.

However, he did not elaborate on the type of punishments.

According to Mohamad, the amendments will be tabled for the first reading when the Dewan Rakyat convenes later this month. It will be tabled for the second reading in August.

In September last year, Bernama reported the fisheries department as saying that the Fisheries Act 1985 or Act 317 would be amended to better regulate aquaculture activities and enhance biosecurity measures.

The department’s director-general Adnan Hussain said the amendments will address issues such as illegal, unregulated and unreported fishing, marine protected areas and the Fisheries Impact Assessment.