http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/Tuesday/National/2055667/Article/index_htmlKUALA TERENGGANU: They came to illegally fish off Malaysian waters. But, as it turns out, the foreign fishermen will be helping marine life instead.
All the boats seized from them in the state would be sunk in waters off the coast, to be turned into artificial reefs.
At present, these boats, some of which are rotting away, are tied up at the Sungai Terengganu rivermouth in Pulau Duyong.
Rather then let them remain an eyesore, the state Fisheries Department plans to sink them around Pulau Bidong near the underwater gallery.
It is understood the boats will be sunk next year after the monsoon season passes.
State Fisheries director Munir Mohd Nawi said the sunken vessels would also act as a fish aggregating device, as it would attract different species to the boats.
"Fishing is off limits around the island because it is a marine park.
"The sunken vessels will attract many species of fish and the area will be a paradise for divers," he said after the sinking of 33 cement cuboids to create artificial reefs, here, yesterday.
The cement cuboids, weighing 12 tonnes each, were sunk 2.5 nautical miles from Batu Buruk beach.
This represents the second of five packages of artificial reefs, costing RM1 million, to run from Besut to Dungun. The first package was sunk in Marang.
Malaysian Coral Reef Conservation Society president Jamhariah Jaafar said it was a great idea as it would mean the gallery could add another zone to the ones that had been proposed.
"As it is, the gallery is tourism-centric and the vessels would be an additional boost. The sinking of the vessels must be planned properly.
"I'm looking forward to working with the department," she said.
