The Marine and Water Bureau (DSAMA) said in a statement that the summer fishing moratorium ended yesterday when nearly 100 fishing boats departed from their moorings in the Inner Harbour.
According to yesterday’s statement, DSAMA officials and Macau Customs officers were at the piers coordinating the boats’ departure and podcasting the importance of water safety.
The bureau urged the fishing sector to prepare digital itineraries that show where the boats have been before entering the harbour, adding that if the boats entered a “medium to high-risk area”, crew members on the boat must undergo 14-day mandatory quarantine. The statement also said that when entering the harbour, customs officers may take some time checking their digital itineraries, therefore it hoped that the fisherfolks can be patient while waiting.
The statement said that fishing boats must be berthed at designated piers in the Inner Harbour, adding that crew members on board who are not fisherfolks are not allowed to go ashore. The statement underlined that non-local crew members entering Macau must show customs officials their nucleic acid test (NAT) results. The statement also said that they can only enter Macau through the Inner Harbour’s Sampans South Quay.
The statement said that in order to ease stress at the beginning of the new fishing season, the bureau and Macau Customs Service decided to extend fisherfolks’ replenishment period and added Pier 31 as an extra spot for replenishments. The statement pointed out that the COVID-19 pandemic situation changes every day, urging fisherfolks to pay close attention to the development of the novel coronavirus epidemic. The statement also said that fisherfolks should avoid leaving Macau unless it is absolutely necessary.
This handout photo provided by the Marine and Water Bureau (DSAMA) shows fishing boats setting sail from Macau’s Inner Harbour yesterday.
