PUTRAJAYA, June 20 — The Department of Fisheries Malaysia (DOF) said arrests of foreign fishing vessels in Malaysian waters have fallen by 73.8 per cent since 2021.
Reflecting the effectiveness of coordinated enforcement efforts against illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing.
Director-General Adnan Hussain said foreign vessel arrests declined from 126 cases in 2021 to 33 cases in 2025. Through OP NAGA, 17 enforcement agencies.
Including the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency and Marine Police, recorded 546 foreign vessel arrests between 2020 and 2025.
DOF said it will continue strengthening enforcement and urged fishermen and the public to report suspicious fishing activities.
