by AKMAR ANNUAR

JAPAN International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Japan Coast Guard (JCG) and Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) are collaborating on a Maritime Law Enforcement workshop on the illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing.

Japan’s ambassador in Malaysia Takahashi Katsuhiko said the workshop, under the cooperation of JICA, JCG and MMEA, would further enhance the long-standing bilateral relations between Japan and Malaysia, as well as help to promote the maritime security in the region.

“Organised by JICA, the workshop also aims to help MMEA handles the IUU fishing, one of the major challenges the country faces,” Katsuhiko said during the opening ceremony of the workshop in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, today.

According to Katsuhiko, the workshop will would include lectures on international laws and the use of long-range acoustic device (LRAD) against IUU fishing vessels in cooperation with trainers from JCG.

“JICA plans to donate four LRAD to MMEA after the workshop upon completion of necessary procedures.

“It is expected that the equipment will be utilised for maritime law enforcement activities in the seas around Malaysia,” Katsuhiko said.

The cooperation among JICA, JCG and MMEA represents the solid bilateral coast guard relations between the two nations.

Since the establishment of MMEA in 2005, Japan has dispatched experts to MMEA through JICA to conduct a variety of technical cooperation projects in the field of maritime law enforcement, search and rescue operations, and others.

Japan also contributed two large patrol vessels, KM Arau and KM Pekan, to Malaysia in 2016 and have been playing a vital role in protecting Malaysian waters today.

Katsuhiko mentioned that all the while, Japan and Malaysia, which are both maritime nations, have been cooperating to maintain maritime safety and security around Malaysia that is vital for international shipping.

Under these circumstances, both countries have been considering measures to cope with maritime crimes around Malaysia.