The Marine and Water Bureau (DSAMA) said in a statement yesterday that it will once again deploy fire prevention and pandemic control measures during the upcoming fishing moratorium.
According to the statement, the three-and-a-half-month summer fishing moratorium will begin next month, when fishing boats will be returning to their moorings in the Inner Harbour.
According to yesterday’s statement, DSAMA officials and Macau Customs Service officers will send tugboats to conduct a 24-hour watch around the moorings in the Inner Harbour, where the bureau will continue to set up fire barriers aimed at effectively preventing the spread of fire.
The statement said that fishing boats must be berthed at designated moorings in the Inner Harbour, and the bureau has accordingly selected the appropriate piers for on-shore rescue if there is a fire, while the fisherfolks are required to always leave some crew members aboard with adequate firefighting and lifesaving equipment.
The statement said that the fisherfolks must keep their positioning system on all the time to ensure the accuracy of their fishing vessels’ location record for the Macau Customs Service officers’ verification upon entry into port, adding that if the boats had entered a “medium to high-risk [COVID-19] area”, all the crew members on the boat must undergo the necessary medical observation procedures.
The statement also reminded the city’s fisheries sector to pay close attention to the latest local government and neighbouring regions’ policies on pandemic prevention and control, as well as customs clearance. The statement also said that the fisherfolks are advised to receive their vaccinations or boosters during their stay in Macau in line with the arrangements and guidelines of the Health Bureau (SSM).
In addition, according to the statement, the bureau has put out a podcast on the importance of safety to the ferrymen steering the city’s water taxis.
A water taxi is a type of water transportation used to provide public or private transportation in Macau. Water taxis are available at the Inner Harbour for those who need to cross the river and are an important means of transportation for flower vendors in the Inner Harbour.
The bureau underlined in the statement that the water taxi must not be overloaded, and that operators must comply with the relevant regulations, navigation and avoidance rules regarding the Inner Harbour channel crossing area, and pay close attention to safety before crossing the channel.
The statement stated that the operators must ensure that the navigation lights are in good working order at night or during poor visibility and should regularly check the condition of the boats and safety equipment.
This undated handout photo provided by the Marine and Water Bureau (DSAMA) shows fishing boats in Macau’s Inner Harbour.
