Minister in the Chief Minister's Office, Nasir Sakaran, wants everyone including fishermen and enforcement agencies to work together to ensure that there is zero fish-bombing in the waters off Semporna.

Nasir, who is also the state assemblyperson for Senallang, said strong commitment and efforts towards this end were crucial so that the coral reefs in Semporna and the marine resources there could be preserved.

"Stricter enforcement is needed. Such activities (fish bombing) can be considered as a crime as they cause destruction," he told reporters after closing the one-day seminar of district chiefs, community heads, village heads and Chinese community heads in the Semporna district.

Catching fish using explosives was not only an offence under the law and posed a danger to the people involved, it also destroyed the corral reefs that formed a breeding place for marine life.

If such activities were not given serious attention, it was feared that the coral reefs in the waters off Semporna - which is recognised by local and foreign scientists as being among the most beautiful in the world - would be lost forever and would be a major loss to the country, he said.

Nasir suggested that the relevant authorities reviewed the law on preventing fish-bombing and, if necessary, stiffer penalty should be introduced.

- Bernama